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MALIMBUS

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Societe d’Ornithologie de FOuest Africain

1982

VOLUME 4

Number

1

May

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J. Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Editor, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

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- to the Managing Editor (Aberdeen University Department of Zoology,

Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN , Scotland, U.K.) regarding contribu-

tions to Malimbus and purchase of back numbers (i.e. the Bulletin of the

Nigerian Ornithologists' Society)

- to the Hon. Treasurer (39 Avon Castle Drive, Ringwood, Hants, U.K.

regarding subscriptions and financial

matters

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University, Zaria, Nigeria) or Vice-President (Station d'Ornithologie,

Richard-Toll , B.P. 20, Sdndgal) regarding policy matters

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regarding all other matters

The Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society, which was

founded in 1964. Its object is to promote scientific interest in the birds

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publication of its journal Malimbus (formerly the Bulletin of the Nigerian

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subsidy by the Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigeria, to whom copyright of

Malimbus belongs.

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

Malimbus

Vol. 4 1982 No. 1, May

THE MOULT OF SOME BIRD SPECIES ON MOUNT CAMEROON*

by R. Eyckerman and D. Cuvelier

Received 23 March 1982

Revised 6 April 1982

Biological field work was carried out during a visit to the slopes of Mount

Cameroon in February, March and April 1981 (Bosmans 1982) . Systematic

mist-netting at several localities from 22 February to 24 March resulted in

the capture of 305 birds belonging to 64 species (Eyckerman & Cuvelier, in

prep.). For some of these species large samples were caught and examined

for moult. Moult data for African birds being scant, our data are

presented here even if they are sometimes fragmentary.

Moult was assessed by scoring according to the numerical method used

by Newton (1966). Each remex and rectrix feather was scored as 0 (old),

1 (missing, or small pin) , 2 (one-third grown) , 3 (half grown) , 4 (three-

quarters grown) and 5 (full-grown), and the moult score determined simply

by summing the individual feathers scores.

VERREAUX'S TOURACO Tauraco macro rhynchus verreauxii

A male and a female with regressed gonads were shot at 1,900 m; both

were in heavy moult:

left

&

u

( u

■p

Primaries

0,0, 0,0, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,

right ^ 5,0,0, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,

Secondaries Tertials

5. 5. 5.0. 4. 4, 5, 5, 5, 5,

5. 5. 5.0. 5. 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,

Rectrices

5 , 5 , 3 , 5 , 0,

0, 5, 5,0, 1, ^

left (damaged; moult not scored) 2, 1,5, 5,0,

right 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 , 0, 5 , 5 , 5 , 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 2, 0,0, 0,0, 0,5, 5, 5, 5,

The moult of the male agrees with Stresemann's (1966) findings: distal

primaries start moulting when the proximal reaches P5. The secondaries of

the male seem to follow a similar pattern with a proximal and distal group,

but in the female there is no evidence for this. The tail moults very

irregularly. Louette (1977) recorded remex moulting specimens of this

species in the months February, July, October, November, December.

* Scientific results of the Belgian Mount Cameroon Expedition, February-

April 1981: VI.

2

R. Eyckerman & D. Cuvelier

MALI MB US 4

BROWN-BACKED CISTICOLA Cisticola hunteri discolor

This species has a complete postnuptial moult in March, April and May

(Lynes 1930). We caught 18 individuals at 1,900 m in March; the presence

of family parties and juveniles suggests that the breeding season ended

shortly before. Of 13 adults ten were moulting, with primary scores

between 14 and 55. This span was too small for assessing the relationship

between primary, secondary, and tertial moult. Comparing primaries and

rectrices, we find the relationship y = 24.31 + 0.82 x; i.e. tail moult

starts when P3 is growing and has finished before P8 grows. Tail feathers

seem thus to grow somewhat faster than primaries. Tail moult is irregular

and many feathers are growing simultaneously:

Bird

T6 54321 123456

no .

151055 555250

OOOOOO 000050

1 22240 022221

003202 443330

2 33330 033332

2 05020 000022

2 00000 000002

000000 100011

123305 522221

1 11221 500011

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

PREUSS'S DOUBLE -COLLARED SUNBIRD Nectarinia preussi preussi

Eight were captured at 1,900 m, all moulting. Five males had primary

scores from 37 to 55 (mean 43) and three females from 24 to 44 (mean 34) .

Thus females may moult slightly later than males. The relation between

primary and secondary moult in males was: y = 34.79 + 0.85 x. The first

secondary remex is thus shed when P4 is growing, and secondary moult is

completed when P9 is growing. For the relation between primaries and

tertials we find: y = 36.19 + 0.70 x. Tertials seem to follow the

sequence: middle (2), proximal (3), distal (1) . The first (2) is shed

when P4 is growing and the moult of the tertials is complete when P6 is

growing. Only two birds were moulting tail feathers, and tail moult

appears normally to be centrifugal. Rectrix 1 is thus dropped first and

not last as Hanmer (1981) found in several species of Nectarinia in

Mozambique and Malawi .

BLACK-CROWNED WAXBILL Estrilda nonnula

20 were caught at 1,200 m and seven at 1,900 m. Seven were moulting

flight feathers and one was in contour moult. For six birds we calculated

the relationship between primary and secondary moult to be: y = 44.68 +

1.08 x; i.e. secondary moult starts when P5 is growing and lasts somewhat

longer than primary moult.

1982

MOULT ON MOUNT CAI1EROUN

3

BRONZE MANNIKIN Lonchura cucullata cucullata

Bronze mannikins were very common around the camp site at 1,200 m and

24 were caught, mainly juveniles. All except one were moulting. In juven-

iles, primary and secondary moult are related by the equation: y = 34.22 +

1.27 x (n = 15), which means that the secondary remiges moult starts when

P4 is growing and continues some time after primary moult is completed.

Secondary remiges thus appear to grow at a slower rate.

Woodall (1975) described moult in Zimbabwe. Post- juvenile and post-

nuptial moult is complete and he found no differences between the two

moulting patterns. He found that secondaries only started to moult with

P6, P7 or P8, considerably later than in our population. Also, in

Zimbabwe, secondary moult extends beyond the primary moult period. Tertial

moult follows the pattern: middle (2), proximal (3), distal (1) in contrast

with Woodall's sequence from distal to proximal (1, 2, 3) . The relationship

with primary moult is: y = 31.77 + 1.40 x (n = 4) . The first tertial is

thus dropping when P4 is growing and continues until P8 is growing. This is

in agreement with Woodall's findings. Many individuals had new feathers in

their tails but only five were actively moulting rectrices (y = 58.2 + 0.23

x) . Tail moult would thus take place between the P6 and P8, which is also

later than Woodall found in his population where tail moult started with or

before primary moult.

YELLOW BISHOP Euplectes capensis phoenicomerus

Nine were caught at 2,800 m of which eight were moulting flight

feathers. We derived the following equation: primaries - secondaries

y = 88.84 + 0.56 x (n = 7) ; primaries - tertials y = 69.30 +0.75 x (n = 5)

primaries - tail y = 60.80 + 0.77 x (n = 8) . Moult of secondary remiges as

well as tertials and tail start while P7 is growing. They all end at about

the same time as primary moult.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The expedition was supported by grants of the Belgian National Science

Foundation and the King Leopold III foundation for exploration and

conservation of Nature. We wish to thank the Cameroonian authorities for

their kind cooperation, especially Dr. E. Tebong, director of the Institute

of Animal Research at the General Delegation for Scientific and Technical

Research. We wish to thank Prof. Dr. J. Huble, Prof. Dr. A. Dhondt and Dr.

M. Louette for reading the manuscript and helpful criticism.

SUMMARY

Moult data are discussed for Tauraco macrorhynchus , Cisticola hunter i ,

Nectarinia preussi , Estrilda nonnula , Lonchura cucullata and Euplectes

capensis .

4

R. Eyckerman & D. Cuvelier

1ALIMBUS 4

REFERENCES

BOSMANS, R. (in prep.) Scientific results of the Belgian Mount Cameroon

Expedition (February-Apri 1 1981) . Situation of the collecting sites

on the altitudinal zonation. Description of Hahnia leopoldi n.sp.

(Araneae: Hahnidae) . Rev. Zool . Afr.

EYCKERMAN, R. & CUVELIER, D. (in prep.) Scientific results of the Belgian

Mount Cameroon Expedition ( February-Apri 1 1981) IV: Birds. Rev.

Zool. Afr.

HANMER, D.B. (1981) Mensural and moult data of nine species of sunbird

from Mozambique and Malawi. Ostrich 52: 156-158

LOUETTE, M. (1977) De avifauna van Kameroen en haar Zoogeografische

interpretatie (Partim Non-Passeriformes). Unpub 1. Ph.D. Thesis,

pp . 384

LYNES, H. (1930) Review of the genus Cisticola: Ibis suppl.: 1-673

NEWTON, I.R. (1966) The moult of the Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula. Ibis

108: 41-67

STRESEMANN, E. & STRESEMANN, U. (1966) Die Mauser der Vogel. J. Orn.

107: 1-448

WOODALL, P.F. (1975) The life history of the Bronze Mannikin. Ostrich

46: 55-86

R. Eyckerman and D. Cuvelier , Laboratorium voor Oecologie der Dieren

Zodgeografie en Natuurbehoud , K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35,

B-9000-Gent , Belgie

5

REMARQUE S A PROPOS DES BUSES ( Buteo buteo ssp.)

OBSERVEES EN AFRIQUE OCC I DENT ALE

par Rene de Naurois

Received 12 October 1981

Morel & Browne (1981) ont enumere les observations et captures de buses

faites par divers auteurs et par eux-memes en Mauri tanie, au Senegal, au

Liberia et au Ghana. En dehors de plusieurs mentions relatives a Buteo

rufinus , ils relatent la douzaine de cas suivants: une capture dans le

Sud Mauri tanien, l'oiseau ayant ete identifie comme Buteo b. buteo ; quatre

notations dans le Sud-Ouest Mauritanien et le Nord-Ouest Senegalais,

portant sur six sujets, Buteo buteo ssp, sans qu'il ait ete possible de

preciser la sous-espece ni l'origine; une capture a.u Liberia, le specimen

ayant ete rapporte (Forbes-Watson) a la forme intermedius (non reconnue par

Vaurie 1961) qui represente une transition entre Buteo b. buteo et Buteo

b. vulpinus , faites en Mauritanie, au Senegal et au Ghana. Ces donnees

appellent quelques commentaires . Je les presenterai sous forme de

suggestions et d 'hypotheses .

Une possibility semble n 1 avoir pas ete envisagee jusqu'a ce jour.

C'est que s'aventurent en Afrique Occidentale des Buses originaires de

l'Archipel du Cap-Vert ou, a la rigueur, des lies Canaries, de Madere, ou

des Agores. Dans le present travail, je ne aiscuterai que la premiere de

ces eventualites , la moins improbable: celle d 1 apparitions sur le

continent africain, de ces Buses cap-verdiennes auxquelles Swann (au vu

d'un seul specimen!) donna le nom de bannermami .

Leur presence occasionnelle ne peut itre qu'un evenement rare. D'abord

en raison de la distance qui separe l'archipel de la cote continentale :

5 a 600 km selon les lies! Mais aussi parce que les populations de Buteo

buteo, dans les di verses lies ou elles sont reproductrices , sont fort

reduites: en tres petit nombre a l'lle de Fogo, mais jamais vue a Brava

toute voisine; quelques sujets, anciennement, a Boa Vista, mais aucun a

Sal; quelques couples a S. Nicolau, mais rien sur les ilots Raso et Branco,

ni a l'ile de Santa Luzia; quelques paires peut-etre a S. Vicente, sans

certitude; et une population residente a S. Antao, dont 1 'importance n'a

pas pu etre estimee correctement . C'est seulement a Santiago (pres de 1,000

km^ ) que le contingent est surement substantiel. Au terme de recherches

poursuivies au cours de nombreux sejours (de 1963 a 1968) j"evaluais a moins

de 100 oiseaux le nombre total - un nombre qui s'averera sans doute plus

eleve si l'ile de S. Antao, avec ses 780 km2, porte une population plus

nombreuse qu'il ne m'est apparu au cours des prospections (Naurois 1968) .

NDLR: nous avons respecte la decision de 1' auteur qui, estimant la

systematique des Passereaux plus difficile que celle des Non-Passereaux, a

tenu a preciser la sous-espece.

6

R. de Naurois

MALIMBUS 4

A ces deux causes immediate - eloignement et faiblesse des effectifs -

s'ajoute une raison plus generale: l'humeur sedentaire, bien connue, des

oiseaux insulaires . II ne s'ensuit pas qu'aucun facteur ne puisse jouer

en sens inverse: dans le sens d' incursions de Buses capverdiennes vers

l'Afrique con tinentale .

Ce qui vient donner quelque appui a l'hypothese ce sont trois ordres

de f aits qui ne sont pas totalement independants les uns des autres : la

rigueur des conditions climatologiques et ecologiques dans l'archipel, les

competitions, les va-et-vient probables ou ef fectivement constates.

Le climat capverdien est caracterise non seulement par l'aridite mais

aussi par 1' extreme irregularite des precipitations. Plusieurs annees de

secheresse peuvent se succeder (jusqu'a 3, 4, ou 5 annees), entralnant des

disettes ou famines pour les humains, limitant de fagon brutale les nombres

d 'especes vegetales et animales, obligeant les oiseaux de basse altitude

(Alaudidae surtout) a transhumer du Nord ou du Nord-Ouest vers le Sud, en

quete de conditions moins defavorables , obligeant meme, dans certains cas,

a des deplacements vers le continent (je reviendrai sur ce dernier point) .

On congoit que de telles conditions puissent aggraver des competitions

qui, normalement, resteraient d'ordre potentiel. En voici un cas, qui nous

interesse directement. II existe dans l'Archipel quatre especes de

Falconiformes : Falco peregrinus madens tres rare, F. tinnunculus tres

abondant, Milvus m. migrans abondant, Milvus ( milvus ) fasciicauda assez

commun et Buteo buteo bannermani. S'il n'y a pas competition effective

entre le Pelerin et les quatre autres, il existe surement deux conflits

latents : entre le Milan Noir et le Milan endemique ; mais aussi entre le

Milan Noir et la Buse. ... Il y a cent ans Milvus fasciicauda, occupait

toutes les lies. Sur pres de 10 specimens de Milans capverdiens, collectes

par Boyd Alexander a la fin du siecle dernier, deux seulement sont des

Milans noirs (collections du British Museum). L'invasion (ou- re-invasion)

recente par le M. migrans a eu pour effet de repousser fasciicauda vers les

lies du nord et du nord-ouest (S. Nicolau et S. Antao) . Quant a la Buse le

moins qu'on puisse dire est que sa situation est precaire. Le Milan l'a

exclue presque partout des altitudes basses (100 a 300 m) et l'a refoulee

vers l'amont de certaines vallees, audessus de 4 ou 500 m. D'une maniere

generale, l'eventail des proies disponibles est toujours plus reduit dans

les lies que sur les continents. Mais ici, en s ' appropriant les fonctions

de voirie, le Milan a enleve a la Buse une partie des ressources qui

faisaient encore partie de son regime a une epoque recente. Le resultat

est que bannermami semble raser les ... parois rocheuses, occupe une

position marginale et fait figure d'expulsee dans son propre pays. Il

n'est pas absurde de supposer qu'elle puisse parfois chercher a s'evader ...

De fagon plus generale on constate chez plusieurs autres especes des

arrivees recentes en provenance du continent, mais aussi des va-et-vient

plus ou moins irreguliers. Divers Ardeidae ( Egretta gularis , E. ardesiaca)

et Flataleidae apparaissent a Santiago mais ne s 'y fixent pas (Naurois

1964). Bubulcus ibis a envahi les lies depuis plusieurs decennies, mais sa

reproduction, apres plus de cent ans de recherches, n'a ete decouverte

qu'a un seul endroit (S. Domingos, lie de Santiago) en 1965 (v. Bannerman

1969). Encore ne s'agit-il en ce lieu que de deux ou trois couples

(Naurois 1968) ! Ou done nichent les bandes de Garde-Boeufs que l'on

rencontre sur un bon tiers des lies? Viendraient-elles d'Afrique, et y

retourneraient-elles? Ce n'est pas tout. L'arrivee d 'Himantopus himantopus

comme nicheur a l'ile de Sal est toute recente. Mais surtout, cas plus sug-

1982

Buteo buteo EN AFRIOUE OCCIDENT ALE

7

gestif, Gallinula chloropus est absente de ses lieux de reproduction (a Boa

Vista et Santiago) pendant les series d'annees seches: sans doute repart-

elle en direction de l'Afrique continentale , sauf a revenir dans l'archipel

apres que les pluies ont rempli a nouveau les lagunes cotieres (Naurois

1969) . Un dernier exemple est peut-etre fourni par Milvus m = migrans lui-

meme. En effet sa population sur les lies ne paraxt pas etre stable. II

est, certes, nicheur dans plusieurs lies (Naurois 1970) mais il semble que

ses effectifs varient en cours d'annee: comme si des migrateurs se

deplagaient non plus du Senegal vers la Berberie et l'Europe (migration

"classique" de M. m. migrans) mais du Senegal vers l'archipel capverdien;

comme si certains contingents ayant eu l'occasion de faire escale sur les

lies, avaient decide de les adopter en lieu et place de destinations plus

septentrionales - et ceci en nombres variables d'une annee a 1' autre.

Seuls des baguages nous fixeront.

Bref, Buteo buteo bannermani , quoique residente, voire endemique

(faiblement comme je vais le montrer) , pourrait s'aventurer sur le

continent: rarement sans doute, et non sans risques, mais peutetre moins

rarement que son indolence toute insulaire ne le laisserait supposer.

Le probleme pose au depart - identite et origine des Buses collectees

en Afrique Occidentale (Continentale!) - sera de toute fagon difficile a

resoudre. Il faudrait en effet que les examens (ou re-examens) comparatifs

incluent des specimens authentiquement capverdiens. Mais existe-t-il des

caracteres distinctifs pour la Buse de ces lies? Vaurie ne put examiner

qu'un specimen et se refusa a conclure (1953) . N ' ayant eu en mains que

trois adultes et deux immatures, j'ai moi-meme reserve mon jugement (1972).

La Buse insulaire est sans doute un peu plus petite que les Buses d 'Europe;

elle semble surtout avoir une queue plus courte. Mais ces caracteres,

impossibles a apprecier avec certitude sur des oiseaux en vol (in natura) ne

pourront pas etre proposes comme tests avant qu'une plus longue serie de

specimens soit a disposition. La meme reserve s' impose, autant sinon plus,

en ce qui concerne les colorations. Flancs et culottes sont assez rouges

chez bannermani (moins rouges, semble-t-il, que chez les Buses de Socotra);

mais le reste du plumage ne presente de couleur rouille que chez les

sujets jeunes. Je croyais avoir note sur les parties superieures une teinte

originate: non pas franchement brune et foncee (comme chez les buses

europeennes) mais d'un brun plutot clair et lave de verdatre (ou de sepia) .

Il n'est pas certain que cette difference, qui me frappa sur des plumages

frais, se conserve en collection; de fait je ne la retrouve pas ...

Reste le pattern des poitrines et abdomens. Chez les sujets que j'ai pu

observer a courte distance, les parties blanches etaient inegalement

etendues (il n'existe pas de phase blanche!); et tous les adultes

presentaient des barres brunes, plutot rouge-brun, etroites et serrees, sur

les cotes et le bas du ventre (la Buse de Socotra est plus rouge; Frost et

Sigfried 1970). C'est tout, et c'est trop peu.

Nous nous retrouvons ainsi, avec cette Buse des lies du Cap-Vert, en

proie a des perplexites analogues a celles que nous cause, a 1 ' autre bord

de l'Afrique, la Buse de l'lle de Socotra (Frost et Siegfried 1970). Et

pour cause si, comme je le pense, il s'agit a 1 'extreme Est comme a

1 'extreme Ouest, de populations relictes , issues d'ancetres d'origine

palearctique (et non ethiopienne comme Buteo oreophilus) , qui se seraient

etablies en zone inter-tropicale a quelque epoque "humide" du Ouaternaire

recent, peut-etre pas plus anciennement qu'a 1 ' "optimum climatique"

(il y a 6 ou 8,000 ans) . Dans le vaste espace intermediaire (Sahara) une

evolution plus rapide aurait produit Buteo rufinus . Aux deux extremites,

8

R. de Naurois

MALIMBUS 4

les populations insulaires, beneficiant de l'effet moderateur des climats

oceaniques, auraient diverge moins vite . Elies auraient meme pu ac-

querir, par convergence, quelques traits communs. Rien de tout cela ne

vient faciliter nos diagnoses touchant des Buteo buteo erratiques au Sahel

et en zone soudano-guineenne !

Ni mes recherches passees ni mes speculations presentes n'eussent ete

possibles si je n'avais regu la genereuse hospitalite des Museums de New

York, de Tring et de Paris, et si je n'avais ete aide de toutes manieres

par MM les Gouvernements et Administrateurs de 1 'Archipelago de Cabo Verde

ainsi que par mes nombreux amis des lies. Je leur exprime ici ma gratitude.

SUMMARY

Some tropical bird species visit the Cape Verde Archipelago without

settling there. Others have successfully colonized the islands only

recently; or breed there sparsely and irregularly because desertic

conditions and prolonged droughts make life difficult. It suggests that

Buteo buteo, a rather rare inhabitat of some islands, handicapped by the

invasion of the Black Kite, may perhaps leave them at times and wander to

adjacent parts of Africa.

REFERENCES

FROST, P.G.H. & SIEGFRIED, W.R. (1970) Notes on the plumage of buzzards

from Socotra. Bull. Br. Orn. Cl. 90: 136-142

MOREL, G.J. & BROWNE, P.W.P. (1981) Les Buteo palearctiques en Mauri tanie

et au Senegal. Malimbus 3: 2-6

NAUROIS, R. de (1965) Faits nouveaux concernant le peuplement avien de

1'Archipel du Cap-Vert. C. R. Ac. Sc. Paris 260: 5911-5914

NAUROIS, R. de (1969) Notes breves sur l'avifaune de l'archipel du Cap-

Vert. Bull. I.F.A.N. 31 (Ser. A), 1: 143-218

NAUROIS, R. de (1969) Problemes concernant la Poule d'eau ( Gallinula

chloropus L.) de 1'Archipel du Cap-Vert. Bol . Soc. Port. Ciencias

Natturais 2e ser., 12: 141-154

NAUROIS, R. de (1973) Recherches sur la Buse ( Buteo buteo L.) de

1'Archipel du Cap Vert. Vol. d'hommage au Prof. Fernando Frade.

Lisbonne .

NAUROIS, R. de (1972) The kites of the Cape Verde Islands ( Milvus milvus

fasciicauda and Milvus m. migrans ) and a hypothesis about speciation

and geographical distribution in the genus Milvus. Proc. XV Int. Orn.

Congr . (The Hague, De Hagen 1970) : 671-673

VAURIE , C. (1961) Systematic notes on palearctic birds. No. 47.

Accipitridae : the genus Buteo. Amer. Mus . Nat. Hist. 2042

R. de Naurois, 2 Allee des Daims , 91800 Brunoy , France

9

COMPORTEMENT, VOIX ET RELATIONS DE PARENTE DE L'AMARANTHE

DU MALI ( Lagonosticta virata)

par J. Nicolai

Received 12 March 1982

Dans sa "Liste commentee des oiseaux du Mali", Lamarche (1981) mentionne

une espece d 'Estrildide qui , de par sa repartition geographique et ses

exigences ecologiques, occupe une place speciale dans la famille des

Estrildides. Aucun autre Estrildide africain n'a une aire de repartition

contenue tout entiere a l'interieur des frontieres politiques d'un f.eul

pays. Seule cette forme peu connue de Lagonosticta est limitee dans sa

repartition aux massifs greseux du Mali, a l'Est de Mopti, en passant par

Koulikoro jusqu'aux Monts Mandingues.

Pour la couleur du plumage, c'est a la sous espece polionota de

Lagonosticta rubricata que virata ressemble le plus. Cependant le dessus

de la tete, la nuque et le dos sont gris ardoise pur et non pas nuance de

rouge, comme chez polionota. Les joues, la gorge et le ventre sont rouge

brique chez virata et non rouge sombre comme chez polionota. La femelle ne

se distingue du male que par la coloration plus pale du ventre. Cette

ressemblance avec polionota a conduit la plupart des auteurs a considerer

cet Estrildide comme une sous espece de Lagonosticta rubricata .

Une caracteristique commune a toutes les sous especes de Lagonosticta

rubricata est un retrecissement des barbes interieures de la 8eme remige

primaire, ce qui la difference nettement de ses voisines quand I'aile est

deployee. Chez virata, par contre, la 8eme remiges primaire n'est pas

retrecie et la largeur de ses barbes interieures est la meme que pour les

autres remiges primaires. Ce fait a conduit White (1963) a considerer

I'Amaranthe du Mali comme une sous espece de Lagonosticta rhodopareia* , qui

elle non plus ne presente pas de retrecissement de la 8eme remige primaire.

De proches relations de parente entre rhodopareia et virata sont

cependant extremement invraisemblables , ne serai t ce qu'a cause de leurs

repartitions geographiques respectives. Lagonosticta rhodopareia est un

Estrildide dont la principale zone de repartition se trouve en Afrique

orientale, de l'Erythree en direction du Sud jusqu'en pays zoulou. Elle

est representee en Afrique occidentale par la sous espece ansorgei ,

distribute de 1' embouchure du Congo en direction du Sud jusqu'au Kunene .

Environ 3,000 km a vol d'oiseau separent la frontiere la plus meridionale

de l'aire de repartition de virata du point le plus rapproche de la limite

nord de repartition de Lagonosticta rhodopareia ansorgei . Par voie de terre,

ce sont 3,500 km qui separent les lieux de reproduction les plus rapproches

de ces deux Estrildides.

*

jamesoni est seulement une sous espece de L. rhodopareia (Wolters, 1963) .

10

J. Nicolai

MALIMBUS 4

Outre ces arguments geographiques , virata et rhodopareia sont dans

leur coloration et leur voix si differentes qu'une proche parente est a

exclure. Le fait que les barbes interieures de la 8eme remige primaire ne

soient pas retrecies est certainement le signe d'une adaptation ecologique,

a interpreter comme une adaptation a un meme genre de vie dans un milieu

relativement ouvert et offrant peu de protection (Wolters, 1965). Le

groupement de virata avec les sous especes de Lagonosticta rhodopareia ,

entreprise par White sur le seul critere de la forme de la 8eme remige

primaire, ne trouve aucune justification dans les autres caracteris tiques

morphologiques et surtout ethologiques .

Dans le cadre de recherches sur le comportement de parasitisme chez

les veuves, Viduidae, (Nicolai 1964, 1969, 1972), j 1 ai eleve en captivite

entre autres toutes les especes du genre Lagonosticta. L'elevage jusqu'a

1 ' emancipation des jeunes reussit chez Lagonosticta senegala, L. rubricata,

L. nitidula , L. rufopicta , L. rara et L. vinacea. Des enregistrements des

appels et chants existent pour toutes les especes ainsi que les sous

especes rhodopareia et jamesoni de Lagonosticta rhodopareia et polionota ,

haematocephala , ugandae , congica et landanae de Lagonosticta rubricata.

J'ai pu me livrer a des observations sur la vie en liberte et la

biologie de la reproduction dans les pays africains suivants: Kenya

(L. senegala, L. rhodopareia, L. rara); Tanzanie (L. senegala, L.

rhodopareia, L. rubricata); Ouganda (L. senegala, L. rufopicta, L. rara);

Cameroun (L. rara, L. rubricata) ; Nigeria (L. senegala, L. rufopicta,

L. rubricata, L. rara, L. vinacea); Mali (L. senegala, L. virata).

J'ai consacre un voyage de deux semaines au Mali (14.-28 aout 1976)

uniquement a des recherches sur l'Amaranthe du Mali. J'ai trouve ces

oiseaux, en parcourant la region entre Bamako et Koulikoro, sur chaque

massif greseux de quelque importance. Des ma premiere rencontre avec

l'Amaranthe du Mali, je remarquai que ces oiseaux se montrent beaucoup plus

a decouvert que ceux des sous especes que je connais de Lagonosticta

rubricata . Ils etaient perches, souvent par paires ou en petits groupes,

sur de gros morceaux de rochers et fuyaient a mon approche non pas en un

vol court vers le buisson le plus proche comme Lagonosticta rubricata , mais

volaient adroitement sur de longues distances en remontant la pente. Ce

comportement different de celui de rubricata est pourtant certainement une

adaptation a un biotope plus ouvert, plus depourvu de protection et

autorise par la aussi peu de conclusions en ce qui concerne la systematique

que la forme de la 8eme remige primaire.

Les vocalisations de rubricata et virata sont cependant tres

differentes. Les males de rubricata ont un chant, qui change un peu de

sous espece a sous espece, mais qui consiste toujours en un nombre de

strophes, composees selon le cas de 3 a 6 elements iden tiques qui se

succedent. Selon la structure des elements, les strophes rappellent par

leurs resonnances certaines strophes de l'Alouette lulu ( Lullula arborea) ,

du Pipit des arbres ( Anthus trivialis) ou du Rossignol philomele (Luscinia

megarhynchos) .

Le chant est plus souvent introduit par une sequence de sons

croassants tres legers, rappelant un peu les combinaisons de sons rauques

dans le chant du Bouvreuil ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula) . Elle est souvent repetee

pendant plusieurs minutes a intervalles de 4 a 8 secondes, avant que

l'oiseau se decide a passer a ses strophes sonores et peut aussi se faire

entendre pendant le chant lui-meme. Les trilles, qui jouent le role

1982

L ' AMARANTHE DU MALI

11

Figure 1 Biotope de Lagonosticta virata. Massifs greseux pres de Bamako/'

Mali

12

J. Nicolai

MALIMBUS 4

KHz

0 J

Figure 2 Les motifs du chant de Lagonosticta virata (A, B, C) et strophes

typiques des chants de Lagonosticta rubricata haematocephala (1),

Lagonosticta rubricata congica (2) , Lagonosticta rubricata landanae

(3)

1982

L'AMARANTHE DU MALI

13

principale dans le chant de Lagonosticta rhodopareia , n 'apparaissent chez

rubricata que tres brievement et rarement et sont d' importance secondaire

pour la composition du chant. L' impression generate que donne le chant de

rubricata est determinee par la nette division en strophes, separees par

des pauses relativement longues.

Le chant de virata est par contre organise de fagon toute differente.

II est reduit a l'extreme et consiste principalement en trois motifs, dont

chacun comporte un seul element. Le premier de ces motifs (motif A) est un

son court rappelant l'appel de contact du Diamant Mandarin (Taeniopygia

guttata) ou du Bouvreuil githagine ( Bucanetes githagineus) , repete a

intervalles de 3 a 6 secondes pendant plusieurs minutes. Ce n'est que tres

occasionellement que le chanteur execute ce motif A dans une succession

plus rapide, 3 a 5 fois de suite, de sorte que l'ebauche d'une formation de

strophe apparait. Le second motif (B) , moins frequent, est un sifflement

aigu allonge qui commence a 5 kHz, tombe rapidement a 3,5 kHz et qui se

prolonge a ce niveau d'intensite. Ce motif se fait entendre aussi de fagon

isolee, repete sans cesse a des intervalles variant entre 5 et 13 secondes.

Le dernier motif (C) est relativement rare. C'est un sifflement, que ses

frequences superieures rendent doux, d'une intensitee de 2,5 kHz et plus

bref que le motif B.

Un male commence normalement son chant par une suite de motifs A

pendant plusieurs minutes, passe ensuite au motif B et introduit a la fin

de ce chant simple quelques motifs C isoles au milieu des motifs B qu'il

continue d'executer. Dans une execution de 12 minutes, le male chanta 38

motifs A successifs, interrompus par 2 motifs B, passa ensuite au motif B

qu'il repeta 25 fois et n ' interrompi t par 4 motifs C isoles qu'a la fin de

son execution.

La difference la plus frappante entre le chant de virata et les chants

des sous especes de L. rubricata est, outre la pauvrete des motifs chez

virata, 1' absence to tale chez celle ci d'une formation de strophes. De par

la succession interminable de motifs identiques a intervalles relativement

longs, le chant de l'Amaranthe du Mali donne une impression d' extraordinaire

mono ton ie .

Les differences de chant sont tres repandues parmi les sous especes

d'Estrildides africains, et leur simple inventaire ne suffit pas a etablir

des conclusions systematiques importantes. Si pourtant ces differences

atteignent une telle importance comme dans le cas decrit ci dessus, il est

douteux que s ' etablissent entre leurs representants des relations sociales

et sexuelles, quand ils se rencontrent dans les zones de contact de leurs

aires de distribution. On ne sait si l'Amaranthe du Mali, a un endroit de

son aire de distribution, entre en contact avec Lagonosticta rubricata

polionota: je suis en consequence dependant d 'observations sur des oiseaux

captifs pour 1 ' exploitation des differences de chant entre virata et

rubricata . Un male virata, en bonne sante et parfaitement adulte, vecut

dans une de mes grandes volieres pendant plusieurs mois avec quelques males

et femelles des sous especes haematocephala et ugandae de L. rubricata ,

sans se lier a eux. Par contre, des individus des sous especes

haematocephala, ugandae, congica et landanae , faute de compagnes et dans

les memes conditions, s ' associaient a peu pres immediatement a des

representants d'autres sous especes. Leurs vocalisations differentes

semblent constituer entre virata et rubricata une barriere sociale

infranchissable qui, chez les tres sociaux Estrildides, a toujours pour

suite une isolation sexuelle totale.

14

J. Nicolai

MALIMBUS 4

C'est a la sous espece polionota de L. rubricata , sa voisine la plus

proche geographiquement, que virata ressemble le plus en ce qui concerne

les caracteris tiques de coloration. Depuis la colonisation des massifs

greseux du Mali, situes plus au Nord, elle s'est pourtant eloignee de

polionota , tant geographiquement et ethologiquement qu'en ce qui concerne

la voix, de sorte que l'echange de genes entre ces deux formes est depuis

longtems interrompu. En consequence, je propose de reconnaitre le statut

d'espece distincte a l'Amaranthe du Mali ( Lagonosticta virata).

SUMMARY

Observations on the behaviour and vocalisations of the Mali Firefinch

Lagonosticta virata, restricted to rocky outcrops of Mali, show that it is

not a subspecies of Lagonosticta rhodopareia , as previously proposed, but

a relative of the Dark Firefinch ( Lagonosticta rubricata) . The non-

attenuated primary (as it is in L. rubricata) is an adaptation to life

in an open rocky habitat. The extreme differences in the vocalisations of

L. virata and the subspecies of L. rubricata , and the laboratory observation

that a single L. virata individual was unable to make social contact with

individuals of the subspecies of L. rubricata , suggest that the Mali Fire-

finch is an independent species, etho logically separated from L. rubricata

for a long time.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

LAMARCHE, B. (1981) Liste commentee des oiseaux du Mali. Part II.

Malimbus 3: 73-102

NICOLAI, J. (1964) Der Brutparasi tismus der Viduinae als ethologisches

Problem. Z. Tierpsgchol. 21: 129-204

NICOLAI, J. (1969) Beobachtungen an Paradieswi twen ( Steganura

paradisaea L., Steganura obtusa Chapin) und der Strohwitwe ( Tetraenura

fischeri Reichenow) in Ostafrika. J. Orn. 110: 421-447

NICOLAI, J. (1972) Zwei neue Hgpochera-Arten aus West-Afrika. J. Orn.

113: 229-240

WHITE, C.M.N. (1963) Notes on African Estrildinae. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl.

83: 25-29

WOLTERS , H.E. (1963) What is Lagonosticta rhodopareia Heuglin, 1968?

Ostrich 34: 177-178

WOLTERS, H.E. dans IMMELMANN, NICOLAI, STEINBACHER, WOLTERS. Vogel in

Kafig und Voliere. Prachtfinken , Part I. H. Limberg, Aachen (1965 ff)

Prof Dr J. Nicolai, Institut fur Vogel forschung , Vogelwarte

Helgoland , 2940 Wi lhe lms haven , Rep. Fed. d' Allemagne

15

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN WESTERN DARFUR, SUDAN, OVER HALF A CENTURY AND

THEIR EFFECTS ON SELECTED BIRD SPECIES

by R. Trevor Wilson

Received 22 December 1981

Revised 14 April 1982

INTRODUCTION

It is almost 60 years since Capt. (later Admiral) H. Lynes, accompanied by

C. McConnel in 1920 and by W. Lowe in 1921-22, studied the avifauna of

Darfur. His intention was to remove the blank "as far as natural history

is concerned . . . constituted by Darfur and western Kordofan" and he did it

splendidly. His basic ornithological studies in Ibis (Lynes 1924-25)

remain the only major work on the birds of Darfur, and in addition his

visits resulted in important contributions in botany, mammalogy and geology

Information on the bird life of Darfur prior to Lynes' visit was very

scant, generally unscientific and scattered in a variety of books of travel

and memoirs in various languages; a brief review was given by Lynes (1924)

Three subsequent papers (Madden 1934, 1935, 1946) and some scattered

references in official reports represent the total new information, with

some earlier results of the present study (Wilson 1976, 1981; Wilson &

Ball 1979) .

I spent two 18-month periods in Darfur; from 1972 to 1974 and from

1976 to 1977, working on livestock and range resource surveys throughout

much of southern Darfur province. Its environment was described by Lynes

(1924) in some detail. The first part of the present paper details some

of the inevitable environmental changes in the intervening period.

CLIMATE

Few firm rainfall data are available for Darfur although a general climatic

description is given in Wickens (1977) . Nicholson (1978) suggested there

were 'wet periods' from 1875 to about 1910 in the southern Sahara and Sahel

zones (Fig. 1) and that 1910-1920 was 'dry', even with a 'severe drought'.

He postulated that rainfall increased from 1920 to culminate in a 'wet'

period in the 1950s, which was followed by a severe dry period from 1968 to

1973.

An analysis of rainfall at four stations with long run data (Table 1)

supports Nicholson's conclusions. Running means for five stations in

western Darfur all exhibit a generally high level of rainfall in the 1950s

with a marked fall in the average in the 1960s and 1970s (Figure 2) .

The general reduction in rainfall, undoubtedly accompanied by reduced

cloud cover, greater solar radiation, and higher wet season temperatures

has produced a more arid landscape, reflected in the hydrology and

vegetation.

16

R.T. Wilson

MALIMBUS 4

Figure 1 Map of the main part of Darfur showing all geographical names

mentioned in the text

Table 1 Trend analysis of rainfall in Darfur

1982

CHANGES IN WESTERN DARFUR

17

HYDROLOGY

There has been a marked decline in vegetative cover over the last few years,

with much overgrazing and increased areas of cultivation. River flow is

now of shorter duration, and sheet erosion is becoming widespread with some

gullying.

Lynes remarked on the lack of surface water in the dry season, but

some permanent waters may have escaped his notice. At the present time

(even after the recent drought) 'lakes' Kundi and Kili usually contain some

water all year round. There are also ox-bow lakes along the 'Azum, for

example at Amballa and Mongororo, which normally contain water. At El

Fasher the improvement of the town pond has ensured an almost permanent

area of surface water and at Zalingei, Nyala s recent excavations for

brick making and building earth have created pej_ anent, if small, bodies of

water .

VEGETATION

In the past the Wadi 'Azum basin has provided some of the best dry season

pasture grounds along the southern edge of the Sahara. Studies carried out

in 1964-65 (F.A.O. 1968, Wickens 1977) and by the same ecologist in 1977

(Hunting Technical Services 1977) show that the vegetation is now very much

poorer. The most serious degradation, arising from increased cultivation

and overgrazing, is probably occurring in the alluvial valleys of the Wadi

'Azum and its major tributaries. The most important tree is Acacia albida,

but cultivation has reduced natural regeneration to a negligible level and

mature trees are being lopped and burnt. Government plans for irrigation

schemes will cause even more degradation of Acacia albida. No adequate

conservation measures are apparently being taken.

There have been, on the other hand, certain improvements to the

vegetation as a bird habitat. While the 150,000 ha of gazetted or proposed

forest reserve are that only in name, 2,600 ha of plantation on Jebel Harra

have undoubtedly provided new habitats. Similarly the area under fruit,

particularly mango and guava, has greatly increased in recent years and now

provides shelter and food for a variety of birds.

STATUS OF SELECTED BIRDS

OSTRICH Struthio camelus Very uncommon and in danger of extinction

through egg collection and shooting for plumes. Eggs are still used to

decorate mosques and private houses: in 1977 they were offered for sale in

Darfur for as little as 10 piastres (US $ 0.28) and in Khartoum tourist

shops for £SUD 5 (US $ 14) . Prime white plumes were on sale in Mongororo

in February 1977 at £SUD 3 per rotl (about 430 g) . I saw one young bird

from the ground south of Kabar, but saw several from the air. One nest

containing 12 eggs was seen from a helicopter a few kilometres east of

Zalingei in 1965 (Wickens, pers. comm.). Recent aerial surveys (Watson

et al. 1977) gave estimates of 3,600 Ostriches in Darfur in three main

areas, about 250 centred on 11°30'N, 23°30'E, nearly 3,100 in 10° 30'-

11° 30 ' N, 24° 00 '-27° 00 ' E (sandy soils with Combretum woodland) and nearly

300 centred on 10°00'N, 27°00'E. Wilson (1976) has reviewed briefly the

history of the Ostrich in Darfur.

percentile of annual rainfall

18

R.T. Wilson

MALI MB US 4

1982

CHANGES IN WESTERN DARFUR

19

LITTLE GREBE Poliocephalus ruficollis Present on the brick ponds at

Zalingei, November 1976 to February 1977 and again in October 1977.

Probably resident and certainly a winter breeder as young birds accompanied

two adults throughout December 1976 and January 1977. Winter breeding

recorded at Umm Ruaba in Kordofan (Hogg 1958) .

BUFF-BACKED HERON Bubulcus ibis Summer breeding visitor, as noted by Lynes .

First large flocks (50-100 birds) noted at Nyertete, 22 June. By no means

all birds breed and where nesting in company with Abdim's Stork and Sacred

Ibis (mainly in Balanites aegyptiaca and occasional Adansonia digitata) ,

the breeding season was slightly later, from mid- July. Occasional birds may

pass the winter in Darfur, some being recorded at Umm Badr (14°15'N) on the

Darfur/Kordofan border in January 1955 (Mackenzie 1955) .

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea Common winter visitor. A few stayed through the

rainy season but were not observed to breed although breeding in the rains

has been noted in Kordofan (Hogg, pers. comm.) .

BLACK-HEADED HERON Ardea melanocephala Lynes could not estimate its status

but it is now definitely a common resident throughout western Darfur,

breeding in the early rains. Several nests were being constructed in fan

palms Borassus aethiopum in Kabar village 30 April 1977. A colony of 140

pairs in company with Sacred Ibis (31 pairs) and Abdim's Stork (5 pairs)

started building operations, all in A. albida in early May in Zalingei.

Young herons hatched from about 28 June, adults quit the nesting colony in

late September and the last young left the nests 16 October 1977. July

breeding is recorded for the species along the Nile (Hogg 1950) .

GOLIATH HERON Ardea goliath One record 5 km west of Zalingei, 27 October

1977. Not recorded by Lynes but apparently fairly common in south-east

Darfur (Madden 1934) . In western Darfur probably a vagrant at the extreme

northern edge of its range.

HAMERKOP Scopus umbretta Probably less common than previously as only

three records: two birds on 15 November 1976, one on 17 November 1976 at

Amballa and one on 19 January 1977 at Zalingei . No signs of nests and may

possibly be a non-breeding visitor. Madden (1934) has one record.

BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra One in Zalingei in latter part of January and

early February 1977. Probably uncommon palaearctic winter visitor or

passage migrant to and through the alluvial valleys in addition to the

winter visitors to Jebel Marra noted by Lynes.

ABDIM'S STORK Ciconia abdimii The earliest of the intra-African migrants

in Darfur. Common throughout by mid-April, well before the normal rains

begin. Breeds commonly in towns and villages, most often in Balanites

aegyptiaca , at least as far north as El Fasher and Kebkabiya. Most

clutches set by end of May and few birds seen after 19 October 1977.

It also appears to be an early arrival farther east being recorded at

Bara before 2 May, Shendi on 16 May but nesting slightly later, in June.

Departure from Khartoum 10-20 October but still at Sodiri on 13 November

(Hogg, pers. comm.) .

SADDLE-BILL STORK Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Although not recorded by

Lynes this unmistakable stork is widespread and not uncommon, probably

resident and breeding (during the rains), in Darfur in suitable habitats.

20

R.T. Wilson

MALIMBUS 4

MARABOU STORK Leptoptilos crumeni ferus Two sightings: three birds on 17

November 1976 south of Kabar and one bird on 26 January 1977 at Zalingei

confirming its vagrant status noted by Lynes .

SACRED IBIS Threskiornis aethiopicus Generally a summer breeding visitor

throughout the province but with small numbers (scattered groups of 1-3

birds) overwintering where there is permanent water. Visitors arrive later

than Abdim's Stork and about the same time as the Buff-backed Heron. On

the other hand they apparently stay later in Darfur than either of these

two species and were still present in numbers at the end of October 1977 in

and around Zalingei .

HADADA Hagedashia hagedash One seen and several heard calling at Kabar,

26 May 1977, probably confirm it as an occasional vagrant, as noted by

Lynes .

KNOB-BILLED GOOSE Sarkidiornis melanotus The status appears to have

changed from summer passage migrant to common rainy season visitor with

some birds breeding. First birds were noted on 7 June and then in numbers

from 30 June. Several pairs had nests in hollow A . albida trees on the

flood plain of the 'Azum 5 km north-east of Zalingei: the one nest examined

had five eggs (two of which measured 56.9 x 38.5 mm and 54.3 x 38.5 mm and

weighed 48.6 and 45.8 g respectively) on 1 August and two additional eggs

two days later.

VULTURES All species appear to have undergone a drastic reduction in

numbers throughout most of Darfur. I have records of: one Nubian Vulture

Torgos tracheliotus which had got itself partially trapped in a small

acacia bush 20 km west of Zalingei in the late evening 19 November 1976;

one Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus overflying Zalingei on 18

December 1976; one Hooded Vulture Aegypius monachus at Kebkabiya about mid-

day on 3 June 1977; two Hooded Vultures roosting in Zalingei town on 12

August 1977; and two groups of the brown phase of the Whi te-backed Vulture

Gyps bengalensis , one of seven birds on the ground 17 km east of Zalingei

and one of five birds on the ground 12 km east of Kas, both on 7 September

1977 towards the end of the rains.

No vultures were ever present at Zalingei slaughter house throughout

late 1976 and the whole of 1977 nor were any seen at the several weekly

village slaughterings visited. Seven Egyptian Vultures were noted at El

Fasher town midden on 1 November 1977.

BATELEUR Terothopius ecaudatus Fairly common in the south of the province

in the Buram and Tullus areas . Never seen north of Nyala or in western

Darfur and its range is probably being compressed towards the south.

FISH EAGLE Haliaetus vocifer Status has changed since 1920. From being

an occasional summer visitor or migrant it is now a fairly common resident

in suitable localities. Several were present at Lake Kundi in Southern

District throughout the winter and there were four distinct breeding

territories at Lake Kili. A single bird was seen most days at Zalingei

brick ponds throughout January and February 1977.

BLACK KITE Milvus migrans Lyne ' s general remarks are endorsed. Large

concourses, of several thousands, arrived in Zalingei on almost exactly

the same dates as in 1920 - 26 June, 27 June, 1 July, 10 July 1977. A

slightly earlier passage was recorded in Nyertete on 20 June. Several

hundreds of birds stayed in Zalingei throughout July and August, and an

estimated three thousand in Nyala.

1982

CHANGES IN WESTERN DARFUR

21

GREY KESTREL Falco ardosiaceus Resident in small numbers throughout the

year at least as far north as Zalingei where a pair roosted throughout the

winter 1976-77 in the lower town at the confluence of the Wadi Aribo and

the 'Azum. Numbers augmented in the rains by visitors.

FOX KESTREL Falco alopex Resident and late dry/early rains season breeder.

A pair at Jebel Galabat were feeding fledged young, 8 July 1977.

SECRETARY BIRD Sagittarius serpentarius While being the national emblem of

the modern Sudan and enjoying complete (and undoubtedly real) protection,

the Secretary Bird remains uncommon to rare. Eight records, all of single

birds except one: 22 April, 2 November, 17 November (of one and of two

birds on recently burnt areas) 1976, 10 January, 1 flay, 1 July and 12

August 1977. Probably resident and not just an off-season visitor as

considered by Lynes .

SCALY FRANCOLIN Francolinus squamatus Present in the "gallery forests"

(Wickens 1977) on Jebel Marra. Lynes did not visit these areas - at least

not according to his itinerary - and it is possible that further exploration

would reveal other forest species on Jebel Marra. Recorded from Jebel Marra

by Cave and Macdonald (1955) but otherwise noted in the Sudan only from

Equatoria Province .

STONE PARTRIDGE Ptilopachus petrosus Much reduced: resident in a

scattered and irregular distribution, no longer common throughout as

heretofore. A family group of 10-12 birds was seen in a typical habitat

of laterised soils south of Kabar although the birds were actually foraging

in a clump of bamboo. A second record was of several groups in a burnt out

plantation of Cupressus above Golol on Jebel Marra at about 2,000 m.

GUINEAFOWL Numida meleagris Much reduced in populated areas and in the

vicinity of main towns. Still very common in remote areas and particularly

in the south where access by vehicles is difficult or impossible during the

rains breeding season.

CROWNED CRANE Balearica pavonina If there are, as Lynes indicated, only a

small number of resident Cranes in Western Darfur, then there must be

considerable seasonal movements. Two flocks of several hundred birds were

seen on the 'Azum between Amballa and Mongororo on 29 December 1976. In

Southern Darfur there is a more or less permanent winter population of

several hundred at Lake Kundi .

ARABIAN BUSTARD Otis arabs and DENHAM'S BUSTARD Neotis denhami Common in

Lynes' time, the resident population of the Arabian Bustard is probably

extinct or nearly so. The seasonal movement of a probably more southerly

population continues, in seemingly greatly reduced numbers. Sixteen birds

(groups of 5, 1, 1, 8, 1) were noted flying south on 17 November 1976, one

bird having been noted earlier on 28 October; all of these were south of

Kabar. Although the northward passage was waited for in 1977 only three

birds were noted on 24 June, flying strongly towards the north 15 km west

of Nyertete.

I had no sightings of Denham's Bustard although I was presented with

one shot in mid- December 1976. Formerly scarce, it is probably almost

extinct in Darfur.

Birds of both species, presumably residents were present in Sodiri in

Kordofan in November to February and between Jebel Meidob and 'Atrun (Bir

Natron) in Northern Darfur in December- January in the period 1938/39 (P.

Hogg, pers. comm.) .

22

R.T. Wilson

MALIMBUS 4

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus A much more common winter visitor

than suggested by Lynes, and not at all local, occurring along the length of

the 'Azum from Zalingei to at least Amballa. Earliest records were on 29

October 1976 at Amballa and 28 October 1977 at Zalingei. Latest record was

11 February 1977.

EGYPTIAN PLOVER Pluvianus aegyptius A few noted on 22 August 1977 at

Zalingei. However, it was common on the 'Azum at Amballa throughout the

winter of 1976-77; a resident breeding population is probably established

in the far west of Darfur. Perhaps these are an offshoot colony from the

Bahr el 'Arab population which was quite conspicuous in March 1974 (Field

1974) .

SPECKLED PIGEON Columba guinea Common resident in towns and in country

throughout, breeding occurring in most months . Particularly common in areas

of the Fan Palm Borassus aethiopum in which several nests were found, thus

confirming the preference indicated by Harwin (1963) in Nigeria. At least

in the Sudano-Sahelian zone the Speckled Pigeon has an apparent affinity

with this palm as a nest site.

GREEN PIGEON Treror waalia Common where there are wild fig trees, to

which it is apparently confined having not made any transition to

cultivated fruits.

BROWN PARROT Poicephalus meyeri Very common, particularly in the A. albida

areas as far west as Amballa. Two pairs feeding young in nests, end of

January 1977.

RED-HEADED LOVEBIRD Agapornis pullaris Not recorded by Lynes. Fairly

common along the whole of the Sudan/Chad boundary in Western Darfur,

particularly from November to February. Recorded on the Wadi Barei at

13°00'N 23 °00 ' E ; probably representing a northward extension of its range.

GREY PLANTAIN-EATER Crinifer zonurus Has probably benefitted from man's

activities and has spread everywhere that mangoes and guavas grow; can be

considered abundant. Diet not confined to fruit trees, however, as leaves

and winged termites found in the stomach of one bird.

BROAD-BILLED ROLLER Eurystomus glaucurus Common summer visitor in the

A. albida zone. Probably more plentiful and widespread than in Lynes' time.

Very active. Several breeding pairs in Zalingei throughout July and August.

ABYSSINIAN GROUND HORNBILL Bucorvus abyss inicus Although found in various

habitats is much more common in the Acacia albida alluvial zones than else-

where. Normally in pairs with one young, identification being based on

facial colours and casque characteristics. Congregations of six or more

foraging birds were generally seen in the late afternoon or evening. Nests

are probably mainly in hollow A. albida. One 1-week-old nestling was being

fed by both parents on 28 July 1977. The booming call is not strictly

confined to the breeding season - recorded 2 February, 8 March, 22 April,

24 May, 7 July and then almost continuously through July and August, almost

all calls being noted before or around dawn. Calling was again heard 13- IS

October.

BLACK-BREASTED BARBET Lybius rolloti General status given by Lynes

confirmed in the northern savanna-like extensions. Has now successfully

colonised the Eucalyptus plantations at Nyertete from where it probably

forages out to mango and guava orchards .

1982

CHANGES IN WESTERN DARFUR

23

BLACK-HEADED GONOLEK Laniarius barbarus and CRESTED HELMET SHRIKE Prionops

cristata Both shrikes are common residents but subject to local movements.

They move out of the A. albida zone in the rainy season when the trees are

leafless .

The Gonolek has successfully colonised the Eucalyptus plantations in

the Nyertete area.

YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER Buphagus africanus Is now resident throughout most

of Darfur as far north as Zalingei . Several records in Zalingei for

December 1976/January 1977 and March/April 1977.

PIED CROW Corvus albus Observations largely confirm those of Lynes - the

Pied Crow is still a winter visitor throughout most of the province. First

arrived in the Zalingei area, 28 October 1976, a large number of birds

remaining until well into the next rainy season, last recorded 23 July 1977.

First arrivals in the following year after the rains, 14 October 1977.

Nyala is evidently large enough to provide an attraction for Pied Crows even

during the rains: several large flocks each of over 100 birds inhabited

Nyala throughout July-August rains of 1977.

Most birds were associated with human activity, foraging usually in

pairs. Only three breeding records, each of a single nest, noted in 1977.

One successful brood in an Acacia albida in Zalingei town in early June,

another in a Khaya senegalensis 5 km west of Nyertete raised a brood in

late June/early July, and one in a baobab Adansonia digitata 3 km north of

Nyala airfield was in the process of being built in early June but whether

a brood was reared is not known.

FAN-TAILED RAVEN Rhinocorax rhipidurus The 1920 status is largely

confirmed. Common at Dereisa gorge in addition to Jebel Marra. The

slaughter slabs in the towns and villages have become important food

sources. At Zalingei slaughterhouse the first birds usually appeared just

after first light; if these birds roosted on Jebel Marra, over 100 km

north-east, they would have had to travel during darkness.

PI API AC Ptilostomus afer Has apparently extended its range. Mackworth-

Praed & Grant (1960) give its distribution as southern Sudan, associated

with the Fan Palm Borassus aethiopum and subject to erratic seasonal move-

ments. It is now resident in Darfur as far north as Kas and Garsila, where

in both villages there is suitable habitat in the form of B. aethiopum

groves and ample food supplies from insects disturbed by the large numbers

of domestic animals. It is probably extending its range still farther

northwards: recorded at Zalingei (12°54'N), early March and mid-April 1977

and at Nyertete (12°58'N) June 1977. Its presence in Zalingei may be a

result of movement along corridors of suitable habitat, relicts of former

savanna and gallery forest conditions (Wickens 1977) .

The Corvidae in Darfur have been treated in detail elsewhere (Wilson

1981) .

WHITE-CROWNED CLIFF-CHAT Thamnolea coronata Occurs on the isolated

volcanic plug of Jebel Galabat 30 km west of Zalingei as well as on Jebel

Marra where Lynes found it. A pair were feeding young at a nest on J.

Galabat on 8 July 1977. Probably also occurs on the hills and crags of the

Dereisa gorge.

24

R.T .Wilson

MALIMBUS 4

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

It is possible that Darfur in the late 1970s was at the end of a gradual

decline in rainfall over a 50-year period, just as it was in the early

1920s. Climatic change, however, has had little effect on vegetation in

the alluvial valleys of the Wadi 'Azum and its major tributaries. Thus,

while climatic change can explain some of the changes in bird distribution

and movement it does not explain them all.

Of those species which have been affected beneficially by man's

activities the Black Kite and the Pied Crow probably provide the best

examples. The Black-headed Heron also appears to have adapted successfully

to human influences and in fact a measure of commensalism would explain its

presence as a breeding bird in Zalingei and Kabar. Other birds which have

benefitted from man's activities are the Sacred Ibis, the Saddle-billed

Stork and the Fish Eagle: increases in water surface areas from irrigation

schemes often coupled with the planting of trees, which provide nesting

sites, are undoubtedly beneficial to these species.

The relatively high density of the Ground Hornbill is also related to

human activity but in a rather anomalous way. The even-aged stands of

Acacia albida date from the period when western Darfur was a battleground

between the Sultan and his sedentary cultivators on the one hand and the

Arab pastoralists on the other. In Lynes ' time - Ground Hornbills were

present but apparently not in considerable numbers - these trees would be

about 25 years old and not yet mature. In the mid-1970s the remaining

stands are comprised of mature and over-mature trees, many of them hollow.

These provide nesting sites for this hornbill (and others) and have

probably resulted in a rapid increase in population over the last 30 years

or so. With increasing destruction of these trees it is likely that the

Ground Hornbill population will decline in the near future. A decline of

other species, for example the shrikes, the parrots, the Broad-billed

Roller and the Knob-billed Goose, which make use of the ample dry season

cover and/or nesting holes provided by Acacia albida, may also be expected.

The direct effects of man's activities are most in evidence in the

game birds, the vultures and the Ostrich. Ducks, geese, Guineafowl and the

Stone Partridge have all suffered from the increased mobility of people and

the general availability of firearms. The bustards are in real danger of

extinction although the smaller ones are still relatively numerous. The

most spectacular crash in the bird populations of Darfur (and of the Sudan

in general) has certainly been in the case of vultures. Many former

members of the Sudanese Civil Service and other long time inhabitants of

the country have remarked on it (P. Hogg, pers. comm.; A. Pettit, pers.

comm. ) . The reason is perhaps obvious and provides an excellent example

(chemical control of tsetse flies is another) of the consequences of the

application of control measures to one species without thought to the

effects on others. Reduction in vulture populations can almost certainly

be related to the indiscriminate use of strychnine to poison hyaenas. In

Darfur this was done on an enormous scale as can be gathered from government

archives for 1947-52 for Southern Darfur district which record almost 700

hyaenas and almost as many jackals poisoned (and carcasses noted!) during

the period (Wilson 1979). This continues, as it does in Mali where vultures

are also uncommon (pers. obs . ) . On the other hand where poisoning is not

practised and where hyaenas are still common, as in the case of Ethiopia,

vultures are still among the most obvious birds and in fact make up more

1982

CHANGES IN WESTERN DARFUR

25

than 90 per cent of the raptor biomass.

The commonness of the Ostrich has probably always been rather relative

but they have undoubtedly suffered in numbers from egg-taking and shooting

for plumes. It has been pointed out to me by the late L. H. Brown that in

areas where Ostriches are fairly numerous, as in the Nairobi National Park,

over half the eggs laid are never incubated and thus a harvest of kinds

might be possible.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am indebted to P. Hogg, J. S. Monk and G. E. Wickens and the late L. H.

Brown for comments on an earlier draft of this paper. I acknowledge grate-

fully the opportunity which was presented to me by Hunting Technical

Services to be in Darfur. My wife's help with the field observations was

invaluable.

REFERENCES

CAVE, F.O. & MACDONALD, J.D. (1955) Birds of the Sudan. Edinburgh:

Oliver & Boyd

FIELD, P.A.G. (1974) Report on a feasibility study on a proposed

conservation area in Southern Darfur, Sudan. London: Ministry of

0 ve rs e a s De ve lopme n t

F.A.O. (1968) Land and water resources survey of the Jebel Marra area.

Rome : FAO

HARWIN, R.M. (1963) Thoughts on a five weeks study in Northern Nigeria.

Bokmakierie 15: 10-15

HOGG, P. (1950) Some breeding records from the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.

Ibis 92: 574-578

HUNTING TECHNICAL SERVICES (1977) Agricultural development in the Jebel

Marra area. Borehamwood, England: Hunting Technical Services

LYNES, H. (1924-1925) On the birds of north and central Darfur, with

notes on the west-central Kordofan and north Nuba provinces of British

Sudan. Ibis XI (6): 339-446, 648-719; XII (1): 71-131, 346-416,

541-590, 757-797

MACKENZIE, P.Z. (1955) A record of the species of birds observed and

collected at Umm Badr lake in north-west Kordofan in January 1955.

Sudan Notes Rec. 36: 176-179

MADDEN, J.F. (1934) Notes on the birds of southern Darfur. Sudan Notes

Rec. 17: 83-101

MADDEN, J.F. (1935) The birds of southern Darfur, Part II, Passerines.

Sudan Notes Rec. 18: 103-118

MADDEN, J.F. (1946) Bird migration at El Fasher, 1944. Sudan Notes Rec.

27: 221-224

NICHOLSON, S.E. (1978) Climatic variations in the Sahel and other African

regions during the past five centuries. J. Arid Env . 1: 3-24

26

R.T. Wilson

MALIMBUS 4

SEVENTY, D.L. (1977) The use of data on the distribution of birds to

monitor climatic changes. Emu 77: 162-166

WATSON, R.M., TIPPETT, C.I., RIZK, F. , BECKETT, J.J., JOLLY, F. & CASBON,

F. (1977) Sudan national livestock census and resource survey.

Nairobi: Resource Management and Research Limited

WICKENS, G.E. (1976) Speculations on long distance dispersal and the

flora of Jebel Marra, Sudan Republic. Kew Bull. 31: 105-150

WICKENS, G.E. (1977) The flora of Jebel Marra (Sudan Republic) and its

geographical affinities. Kew Bull. Additional Series V.

WILSON, R.T. (1976) The Ostrich, Struthio came 1 us , in Darfur, Sudan.

Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 36: 123-125

WILSON, R.T. (1977) Temporal changes in livestock numbers and patterns of

transhumance in Southern Darfur, Sudan. Journal of Developing Areas

11: 493-508

WILSON, R.T. (1979) Wildlife in Southern Darfur, Sudan: Distribution and

status at present and in the recent past. Mammalia 43: 323-338

WILSON, R.T. (1981) The Corvidae in the Sudan Republic with special

reference to Darfur. Afr. J. Ecol. 19: 285-294

WILSON, R.T. & BALL, D.M. (1979) Morphometry, wing loading and food of

western Darfur birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 99: 15-20

R. T. Wilson, B.P. 60, Bamako, Mali

27

NOTE SUR L ' ENVAHISSEMENT DU NORD DU SENEGAL PAR LE MOINEAU DORE

PASSER LUTEUS (LICHTENSTEIN) EN PERIODE DE REPRODUCTION

par P. J. Ruelle et R. Semaille

Received 18 February 1982

Revised 18 March 1982

Les travaux de Morel & Morel (1973 a et b, 1976) sont fondamentaux pour la

connaissance de ce Ploceide granivore, particulierement pour le comporte-

ment reproducteur . Aussi nos observations de terrain pour les annees 1979

a 1981 se refereront constamment, et suivant le meme plan a leur article

de 1976 (designe MM dans la suite) . Les coordonnees des lieux cites sont

donnees en annexe.

Le Moineau dore est une espece importante dans l'Afrique sahelienne.

C'est sans doute l'oiseau le plus abondant, notamment au Senegal et dans le

sud de la Mauri tanie ou a eu lieu cette etude; la comprehension de

l'ecologie et des mouvements de cette espece fait partie des objectifs du

Projet FAO/GCP/RAF 126 (BEL) d'assistance technique a l'OCLALAV (Organisation

Commune de Lutte Antiacridienne et de Lutte Antiaviaire) pour la protection

des cultures cerealieres.

DYNAMIQUE DE REPRODUCTION

Nids

Les especes ligneuses utilisees: les arbres epineux sont seuls

choisis. Si Balanites aegyptiaca est presque exclusivement le support des

nids dans le Ferlo senegalais, vaste savane arbustive au sud du fleuve

Senegal, d'autres especes epineuses peuvent servir d'abri ailleurs: Acacia

Senegal et A. raddiana en Mauri tanie et a l'est de Saint-Louis et surtout

A1 albida en Mauri tanie et au sud de l'axe Louga-Linguere.

La taille des nids semble dependre de la disponibilite en materiaux:

les nids sur A. albida sont generalement plus petits que ceux etablis sur

B. aegyptiaca et les males qui construisent les nids se disputent aprement

les materiaux, peu abondants la ou A. albida domine.

Le nombre de nids par arbre reste stable dans le Ferlo par rapport aux

donnees connues (MM) : 1-5 a Diagle; 1.4 a Madina Ndiatebe; 1*3 a Maka;

mais certaines colonies sont fort dispersees avec un pourcentage eleve

d'arbres inoccupes (0.85 nid/arbre et 41% d'arbres inoccupes sur 259 a

Niassan te en 1979) . Par contre, les densites de nids par arbre sont plus

elevees au sud de l'axe Louga-Linguere, surtout sur A . albida: 3*4 et 5*4

a Louga en 1979 et 1980; 2*5 a Ouarak en 1981; 2*1 a Kebemer en 1981,

avec une moyenne et 5*9 nids par A . albida. Dans la zone sud, la taille

des arbres depasse generalement 4 m, et plus de 20% des nids sont situes

plus haut tandis qu'en Mauri tanie, la majorite des nids se situent a moins

de 2 m de haut en raison de la faible taille des arbres de cette region.

Le densite de nids a l'hectare est proportionnelle a la densite des

28

P.J. Rue lie & R. Seraaille

MALIMBUS 4

arbres. Les observations varient de 10 a 200 nids/ha - le plus souvent de

20 a 100 - avec les raoyennes les plus basses dans la zone sud, en raison de

la faible densite des arbres epineux.

Chronologie de la reproduction

Par rapport aux donnees publiees (MM) , nous trouvons des reproductions

nettement decalees vers les mois de septembre et meme octobre. Les dates

de ponte peuvent etre resumees comme suit pour les trois dernieres annees:

Ferlo et Mauritanie

Maka

sud de Louga

Ferlo et Mauritanie

Tal Bakle

nord de Louga

Sagatta - Pekesse

Ferlo

Sagatta

Ouarak - Linguere -

Sagatta - Pekesse -

Kebemer

Pi re - Baba-Garage

5 au 10 sept.

1 au 5 oct.

20 oct.

15 au 25 aout

15 au 25 sept.

25 au 30 sept.

1 au 5 oct.

25 au 30 aout

5 au 15 sept.

1 au 5 oct.

20 au 25 oct.

1979

1980

1981

Succes

Comme il a ete remarque (MM), le succes des colonies a l'envol est

tres variable (2.1 ± 1.5 oisillons/nid) . En 1981, nous avons trouve des

moyennes de 2.77 oisillons/nid a l’envol de 21 oct. a Kebemer (3.27 si on

ne compte que les nids occupes) et 2.53 oisillons/nid le 6 nov. a Mecke sur

70 nids. Ces donnees indiquent une bonne productivity dans une region

colonisee pour la premiere fois a des dates tres tardives .

REGIME ALIMENTAIRE DES OISILLONS AU NID

Nos etudes n'ont pas approfondi cet aspect mais la presence des grains de

petit mil ( Pennisetum ) trouves dans le gesier de quelques oisillons au nid

confirme la possibility, envisagee par Bortoli & Bruggers (1976) d'un regime

mixte (graines et insectes) .

DISTRIBUTION ET HABITAT PENDANT LA REPRODUCTION

(a) Au nord, 1' absence de nids en activity au-dela du 18°22'N et de

moineaux dores dans la region d'Atar etait signalee en 1975 (MM). Des

observations recentes (A. Din, comm, pers.) font etat de dortoirs et de

nids de Moineaux dores en 1980 et 1981.

(b) A l'est, les moineaux dores sont abondants au Mali (S. Manikowski, comm,

pers.) au Niger (FAO, 1982), au nord de la Haute-Volta (L. Bortoli, comm,

pers.) et du Nigeria (C.O.P.R. 1977, Sharland & Wilkinson 1981), a l'est du

Novembre 1981

30

P.J. Rue lie & R. Semaille

MALIMBUS 4

Tchad (J. Newby 1980) ainsi qu'au Soudan, en Ethiopie et en Somalie (R.

Bruggers, comm. pers.).

II semble y avoir des relations entre les populations des bassins du

Senegal et du Niger car, d'apres les rapports de l'OCLALAV, les Moineaux

dores seraient abondants a Aioun-el-Atrouss , Yelimane, Nioro du Sahel, Nara,

Nema ainsi qu'a l'Office du Niger.

(c) Vers le sud, des mouvements d' invasion, qui seraient le reflet de la

degradation de 1 'habitat (Morel & Morel 1978), se sont deve loupes au

Nigeria (C.O.P.R. 1977) et plus recemment au Senegal.

En 1975, les nids les plus meridionaux recenses au Senegal etaient

situes au nord de Linguere et il n'etait pas exclu d'en trouver plus au sud

a condition d'y rencontrer le support adequat, B. aegyptiaca (MM) . Les

colonies etaient cependant rares avant cette date puisqu'elles n'ont ete

notees qu'en 1961 et 1967 (Morel & Morel 1978) . Depuis 1976, nous avons

trouve, de maniere reguliere et croissante des nids au sud et a l'ouest du

Ferlo, considere comme zone favorable. L 'emplacement des nidifications

decouvertes entre 1979 et 1981 et 1'etendue de la zone de reproduction en

1981 figurent sur la carte 1.

On y remarque des colonies jusqu'au sud de Baba-Garage (14°49'N,

16°28'W) a pres de 150 km au sud de la partie occidentale du Ferlo.

Un deplacement de cette important devait se traduire par des vols

nettement orientes. La chance nous permit de decouvrir un important point

de passage entre le Ferlo et la zone sud, a Keur Momar Sarr. Nous avions

constate en effet la coincidence des dates d' abandon des colonies du Ferlo

avec celles d ' ins tallation de colonies nouvelles plus au sud.

Entre le 27 septembre et le 30 octobre 1981, sur la digue boisee de

Keur Momar Sarr qui re lie les deux rives du lac de Guier distantes

d' environ 500 m a cet endroit, de nombreux comptages systematiques ont

permis d'estimer un passage de 1.5 a 2 millions de moineaux dores venant

du Ferlo et se dirigeant vers le sud-ouest (carte 1) . La taille des vols

(15-20 indi vidus) a permis de mesurer precisement 1 'importance de ce

passage (27 min. a 212 max. moineaux dores/minute a differentes heures de

la journee) .

Au cours des premiers comptages, la proportion de males atteignit 90-

95%, ensuite elle s' inverse a partir du 12 octobre. Ceci correspond bien

au decalage constate entre les colonies du Ferlo et du sud car on sait que

les males devancent les femelles pour choisir 1 ' emplacement des colonies et

les quittent les permiers. On nota parallelement la disparition des males

au Ferlo et 1 ' envahissement brutal et massif des zones meridionales , comme

celle de Kebemer par exemple .

CONCLUSIONS

La mise en evidence de ces deplacements orientes et le decalage quasi

general entre les colonies de reproduction du Ferlo et celles situees au

sud de l'axe Louga - Linguere (carte 1) constituent de serieuses

presomptions en faveur d'une double reproduction importante du Moineau dore

1982

Passer luteus au Senegal

31

au Senegal. La productivity de ces reproductions tardives semble satis-

faisante et meme meilleure que celle constatee dans le Ferlo. Ces observ-

ations eclairent d'un jour nouveau les mysteres de la reproduction chez

cette espece tres abondante et dont le taux de renouvellemen t de 2.1 a 2.3

poussins a 1 'envoi par nid (MM) paraissait derisoire. Vu l'echec des

nidifications tardives observe dans le Ferlo (MM), il etait admis qu'une

seule nichee pouvait reussir au cours de l'annee. Les observations recentes

permettent de penser qu'une double reproduction est fort possible et meme

importante certaines annees, mais dans des zones distinctes.

La pluviometrie, mieux repartie en 1981 qu'en 1979 et 1980, ne parait

guere pouvoir expliquer cet envahissement recent du Moineau dore vers le

sud. En effet, la pluviometrie, ainsi que le developpement gramineen, sont

assez semblables dans le Ferlo et dans la zone sud et, a partir d'octobre,

il n'y a pas plus d'eau libre ici que la.

II s'agit done d'un phenomene important et nouveau pour le Senegal,

dont le determinisme reste obscur et qui merite 1 'attention des ornithologues

et des specialistes de la protection des cultures, car cette espece est sans

doute la plus abondante au Senegal et aussi la plus depredatrice pour les

cultures traditionnelles dans le Sahel (Ruelle 1982) .

REMERCIEMENTS

Ces observations ont ete faites dans le cadre du Projet FAO/GCP/RAF 126 (BEL)

"Assistance technique a l'OCLALAV en matiere de lutte contre les depredateurs ,

en particulier les oiseaux granivores". Nos remerciements von aussi a M

L. Bortoli et a M et Mme G. J. Morel pour la lecture et la discussion du

manuscrit .

RESUME

Les travaux concernant la reproduction du Moineau dore sont discutes et

completes par des observations sur la dynamique de la reproduction (nids,

chronologie, succes) et la distribution, en particulier au sud d'un axe

Louga - Linguere, ou une invasion massive a partir du Ferlo et des nidifi-

cations tardives constituent de serieuses presomptions en faveur d'une double

reproduction importante.

SUMMARY

Earlier studies of breeding in Golden Sparrows are amplified by observations

on dynamics of reproduction (nests, timing, success) and distribution south

of the Louga-Linguere axis, where there is strong circumstantial evidence for

double breeding.

32

MALIMBUS 4

P.J. Rue lie & R. Semaille

Gaze tier

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

BORTOLI , L. & BRUGGERS, R.L. (1976) Nidification de Quelea quelea (L.) dans

le delta central nigerien en 1976. PNUD/FAO-RAF 73/055, rapport

interne (28p)

C.O.P.R. (1977) Quelea investigations Project Nigeria. Final Report 1972-

75. Centre for Overseas Pest Research, London, 57 p, multigr.

F.A.O. (1982) PNUD/FAO 77/047 "Assistance a l'OCLALAV au niveau regional".

Rapport final 1979-81

MOREL, G.J. & MOREL, M-Y. (1973) Premiere observations sur la reproduction

du Moineau dore, ( Passer luteus (Licht.)) en zone semi-aride de l'Ouest

africain. Oiseau R.F.O. 43: 97-118

MOREL, M-Y. & MOREL, G.J. (1973) Elements de comparaison du comportement

reproducteur colonial de trois especes de Ploceides: Passer luteus,

Ploceus cucullatus et Quelea quelea en zone semi-aride de l'Ouest

africain. Oiseau R.F.O. 43: 314-329

MOREL, G.J. & MOREL, M-Y. (1978) Elements de comparaison entre Quelea

quelea quelea (L.) et Passer luteus (Lichtenstein) dans les savanes

tropicales de l'Ouest africain. Cah. ORSTOM, ser. Biol. 13(4): 347-

358

NEWBY, P.J. (1980) The Birds of the Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve.

A contribution to the study of the Chadian avifauna. Malimbus 2: 29-50

RUELLE, P.J. (1982) Le Moineau dore, Passer luteus (Licht.), comme

depredateur des cultures en Afrique de l'Ouest. FAO-RAF 126 (BEL)

rapport interne (16p)

SHARLAND, R.E. & WILKINSON, R. (1981) The birds of Kano State, Nigeria.

Malimbus 3: 7-30

P. J. Ruelle et R. Semaille, Projet FAO / GCP-RAF 126 (BEL), B.P. 1066 Dakar

Senegal

33

EVALUATING THE BIRD REPELLENCY OF METHIOCARB

by M. Hamza, B. Ali, I. El Haig, W. Bohl,

J. Besser, J. De Grazio, and R. L. Bruggers

Received 5 October 1981

Revised 30 March 1982

INTRODUCTION

The Red-billed Ouelea Quelea quelea, while only one of the many ploceid

weaver pest species in Africa, is probably the most numerous avian species

in the world, and perhaps the most destructive. It ranges over floodplains

in semiarid parts of Africa south of the Sahara (Magor 1974) , inhabiting

about 20% of the land area and adversely affecting the economies of 25

nations (De Grazio 1978). In Sudan, it occupies about 90% of the country's

grain production areas and is responsible for damage to sorghum, rice,

and wheat.

Because traditional farmers suffer a disproportionate share of the

total bird damage compared with large cereal schemes, economical, simple,

and appropriate methods of bird damage control are necessary for small

plantings. This report summarizes the fieldwork accomplished in Sudan,

Kenya, and Tanzania on the use and effectiveness of the chemical methiocarb

(4-methylthio-3 , 5, -xylyl N-me thy lcarbamate) as a bird repellent on broad-

cast seed and ripening grain. Methiocarb is widely used and registered for

several crop application uses in the United States as a bird repellent and

has been tested recently in Senegal (Bruggers 1979) and East Africa

(Bruggers et al. 1981) . At low levels of R50 = 0.015% to 0.178% (Shumake

et al. 1976; Shefte 1982), it is a repellent to Red-billed Ouelea, the

principal bird pest in Africa, and other pest species in Sudan like Village

Weavers Ploceus cucullatus , Red Bishops Euplectes orix, Golden Sparrows

Passer luteus , and Masked Weavers Ploceus taeniopterus . Methiocarb is

thought to repel birds by causing an illness-induced conditioned aversion

(Rogers 1974, 1978) .

METHODS

Ripening grain application

Demonstrations and trials were conducted between 1977 and 1980 with

farmers and agricultural researchers on ripening sorghum, millet, and

wheat in several provinces of Sudan. Repellency was evaluated for several

bird species in wire or net enclosures of 2 m^ to 8 m^ placed over ripening

crops and on entire fields of vulnerable cereal crops . Exposed cereal heads

in the cages or in small fields were sprayed with portable Handi sprayers,

B & M sprayers, and motorized CP3 knapsack sprayers; large fields were

sprayed using aircraft. In all enclosure studies, the birds were introduced

after the heads had been sprayed. Additional treatment details for certain

specific tests are described under results. Replications were used whenever

possible .

34

H. Hamza et al.

MALIMBUS 4

Broadcast seed treatment

The trial was conducted at the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC)

station at Wad Medani. Two replicate 600 m^ adjacent bands in each of two

4.3 ha ricefields were seeded at a rate of 77 kg/ha. The seed for one of

each pair of bands was treated with methiocarb (0.20% by seed weight), and

Rhoplex AC 33 adhesives (48% solids — 0.10% by seed weight) in a water

solution in a barrel mixer, sun-dried (water evaporated) , and handsown into

7.5 to 10.0 cm furrows and covered with 2-3 cm of soil. The fields were

irrigated after seven days, simulating planting conditions at the Gezira

Scheme. Counts were made of the proportion of damaged to undamaged seeds,

the number of plants in a 625 cm^ sampling unit, and the number cf birds

feeding in the trial fields during peak activity periods. Seeds and seed-

lings were collected for residue analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Ripening grain application

The initial work with methiocarb in Sudan was considered either

promising (Martin & Jackson 1977) or inconclusive due to insufficient bird

pressure (Martin 1976) . Since 1977 several other field trials and enclosure

studies have been conducted in Sudan to evaluate further the effectiveness

of methiocarb as a means of reducing damage by queleas and other birds to

cereals .

Enclosure tests In a test near Jodah (coord. 12°30'N x 33°0'E), in

which queleas and Village Weavers were placed in net enclosures in a sorghum

field with alternative food, excellent protection was achieved with 1 to 3

kg of methiocarb/ha head sprays (Table 1) . In this test, each head was

treated with 5 cm^ of either a 0.09% or a 0.27% methiocarb suspension with

a B & M sprayer. No more than 2.6% damage occurred in the treated

enclosures compared with 42.6% in the untreated enclosure (Table 1). Damage

was from 16 to 41 times greater in the untreated enclosure and the yield

was from 94% to 98% less. The birds consumed from 20 to 43 g of alternative

food in the untreated enclosures compared with 60 g in the treated enclosure.

Methiocarb was toxic to both species, particularly at the 3 kg/ha level

(estimated 200 ppm residue level) , as 43% of the 54 Village Weavers and 30%

of the 40 queleas died; only 3% of the 41 queleas died at the 1 kg/ha rate.

The mortalities indicate that low levels of methiocarb should be used and

probably would be effective in repelling queleas and Masked Weavers.

Methiocarb has been an effective, broad-spectrum, and nonlethal repellent to

many bird pests in many countries (Guarino 1972, Crase & DeHaven 1976, Calvi

et al . 1976) .

Aerial application In October 1977, at Hawata (coord. 13°28'N x

34°38'E), an aerial application of 4 kg/ha of methiocarb, by a Piper Supercub

with booms, with 1 kg/ha of an acrylic resin adhesive, Encryl E, on three

plots of 4 ha each of sorghum did not provide protection because of applic-

ation problems. Studies with birds put in enclosures in one of the aerially

sprayed fields confirmed that the spray was ineffective in the manner

applied. However, the same concentration, when applied to sorghum with a

knapsack sprayer, resulted in good protection.

1982

METHIOCARB REPELLANCY

35

Table 1 Protection of ripening heads of dura sorghum in 8-m^ enclosures

sprayed with methiocarb at Jodah, Upper Nile Province, Sudan;

November 1978

36

H. Hamza et al .

MALIMBUS 4

Table 3 Comparison of the effectiveness of complete and edge-only methio-

carb applications to four varieties of ripening wheat at Shambat,

Khartoum; February 1980

Spray coverage

Complete

Edge

* Only one complete-spray coverage plot

Table 4 Residues of methiocarb and its sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites

(in ppm) from a 0.20% seed dressing treatment (by seed weight) of

rice seed in Sudan, June 1980

1982

METHIOCARB REPELLANCY

37

Field tests Studies demonstrating the repellency of methiocarb to

pest birds also were carried out on sorghum, millet, and wheat at ARC field

stations at Shambat (coord. 15°35'N x 32°30'E), and Wad Medani (coord.

14°23'N x 33°32'E). Applications of 2% and 6% methiocarb sprays to

individual heads of sorghum along one edge, and two days later the remaining

edges of a 0.1 ha field, markedly reduced the number of birds feeding on the

heads in the field during the first few days. Heads sprayed with either

concentration were not eaten. Birds repelled included House Sparrows Passer

domes ti cus , and weaver birds of the genera Ploceus and Euplectes . However,

the technique did not protect the remainder of the field; birds soon began

returning, and after one to two weeks, only the sprayed heads in the field

were not completely eaten.

A similar application of 2% and 6% methiocarb on vulnerable heads of

ripening millet resulted in a decrease in the number of Ploceus spp. feeding

on the millet from about 300 birds to fewer than 50 the day after application.

The bird population built up again following 6 mm of rain, which presumably

washed off the methiocarb since no adhesive was used. Respraying the heads

again reduced the numbers of Ploceus from several hundred to less than 50

birds a day.

Several additional methiocarb demonstrations were conducted in East

Africa (De Grazio & DeHaven 1974). At Nanyuki (coord. 0°1'N x 37°7'E),

Kenya, during January 1974, one of two 1/8 ha plots of ripening wheat was

sprayed with methiocarb and a 0.5% latex adhesive solution at the rate of

3 kg/ha. Sixteen days after application, bird damage was eight times greater

on the untreated than treated plot. Observations on and near the wheat plots

before treatment indicated twice as many birds in the area to be treated

than in the untreated area. Observations after treatment showed the reverse;

about three times more birds in the untreated than in the treated plot (Table

2). Many birds had apparently left the area. Queleas, Chestnut Weavers

Ploceus rubiginosus , and Long- tailed Whydah Euplectes progne were the most

obvious pests.

Another demonstration was conducted at Rujewa (coord. 8°54'S x

33°27'E), Tanzania, in February 1974 on one of two 0.05 ha plots in a 1.2

ha field with the same application methods and rates as the previous test.

After three days, bird damage was 10 times greater in the untreated than

treated plot. Bird pressure also increased on the untreated plot compared

to the treated plot (Table 2) .

As a consequence of the encouraging results obtained in some of these

preliminary tests, we decided in 1980 to determine the effectiveness of an

edge spray in protecting an entire field (edge applications being more

feasible economically than whole-field applications) . In a trial at Shambat,

Sudan, methiocarb was applied at the rate of 1 kg/ha to the outer edge (1/3

the area) of two 0.25 ha fields of ripening wheat during the milk stage and

again 10 days later during the soft-dough stage. Two similar size fields

were left untreated. Bird pressure and damage were monitored weekly. Each

treated field was less damaged than its untreated pair, and from 18 to 20

times more birds were counted in the untreated than treated fields (Table 2) .

In a second demonstration, also at Shambat during 1980, methiocarb was

applied to experimental national wheat variety plantings. All heads in 11

of 70 32 m^ plots (352 m^ total) were individually sprayed with a total of

1.3 kg of methiocarb and 16 1 of water; adhesive was not used. The edge

rows of three other 32 m^ plots also were sprayed to compare the effective-

38

H . Hamza et al .

MALIMBUS 4

ness of edge and complete coverage applications. Bird damage was estimated

visually before spraying and just before harvesting. Effectiveness

comparisons were made using yield and damage patterns of wheat grown at

Shambat during the same period in the previous two years when methiocarb

was not used. Bird counts were conducted before and after methiocarb was

applied.

Methiocarb repelled House Sparrows, bishops, and Ploceus weavers; the

number in the study plots decreased from an average of 73 per 10 min

observation period during the three days before treatment to less than one

bird per observation period during the two days immediately following

application. Ten days later there were still less than two birds per

observation period, on average. The reduced number of birds resulted in

an average of only 2.9% loss in the 14 plots, compared with 5.6% in 12 plots

in 1978/79 when methiocarb was not used.

Five varieties of wheat grown in 1979/80 also were planted in 1977/78

and 1978/79. Four of these varieties (Son 64 XC-271, Condor, Pato Argentina,

Nayab 70) were less damaged in 1979/80 than in the two previous years.

Finally, no significant differences (P < 0.05; ^t-test) occurred between the

yields of edge-sprayed and completely sprayed plots (Table 3) , again

supporting the feasibility of the less expensive edge application methods.

Dabar variety sorghum is not an easy crop to protect because (a) it has

small seeds (not unlike millet) , (b) the grains do not protrude far from the

glumes so that less chemical repellent is present on the surface areas of

grains that queleas attack, (c) queleas attack it immediately after the

flowering stage, (d) stands are sparse (ca 5,000 plants/ha), and (e) stands

often ripen unevenly. This last situation makes a spot spray to the first

ripening heads particularly appealing. For example, when the first 1% of

the heads are in the dough stage and under bird attack while others are

still in flower, these few maturing heads could be sprayed by villagers with

a repellent.

Broadcast seed treatment

Methiocarb was effective in West Africa as a seed dressing for reducing

bird losses to broadcast rice (Bruggers 1979) . Farmers at the Gezira Scheme

in Sudan sow their fields at rates of 77 to 110 kg/ha to compensate for

various causes of nongermination, including bird damage which can be so high

that some fields have to be entirely resown. Using a bird repellent can

provide a technique whereby farmers can sow at reduced rates and probably

also eliminate the necessity to resow.

In the one seed dressing trial conducted in Sudan, the main birds

eating the newly sown rice were Chestnut Sparrow Larks Eremopterix leucotis

and Crested Larks Galerida cristata. They were part of a small resident

population and averaged only 10-20 Sparrow Larks and 3-5 Crested Larks per

day in the area; three-quarters of the visits were to untreated plots. No

queleas or Golden Sparrows visited the fields, although both species were

in the area during the study.

The proportion of damaged seeds was 3.8 times greater in the untreated

plots than in the treated plots (averages of 16.9% and 4.4%). The rate of

seedling survival, 17 per sampling unit in the treated and 15 per sampling

unit in the un treated plots, was about the same due to displacement of seeds

1982

METHIOCARB REPELLANCY

39

during flooding, incidence of ungerminated seeds, and uneven distribution

of seeds on and below soil. The trial demonstrated that methiocarb can

reduce rice seed damage to larks; similar results were obtained in 1977 with

these species in a trial on melon seeds in Senegal (Bruggers) .

Residue analysis

Ripening grain: Residues averaging 74.6 ppm were found on heads of

wheat (seed and glume) 10 days after treating with 3 kg/ha of methiocarb in

Sudan. These are less than the 102 ppm found on sorghum in Senegal (seed

and glume) for the same time period following a 2 kg/ha application (Gras

et al . 1981) . Residues on the seed itself would be expected to be even

less than the 3.0 ppm found on sorghum after 25 days since the wheat seed is

completely covered throughout maturation. More detailed chronological

residue analyses are needed for ripening grains.

Broadcast seed: Seed and seedling samples for residue analysis of

methiocarb and its sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites were obtained by

randomly collecting at least 300 seeds or seedlings immediately after the

chemical was applied and at days 10 (after irrigation), 15, 20, and 25 (when

the plants were between 10 and 15 cm in height) . The samples were

immediately frozen and sent by air to the Denver Wildlife Research Center

( DWRC ) Chemical Research Laboratories. The samples were analyzed by the

procedure of Greenhalgh et al. (1976). A portion of each sample was

analyzed 'wet' as received at the laboratory. The rest of the samples were

dried, analyzed, and corrected to the wet weight basis. The results are

presented in Table 4. Methiocarb residues from the dried samples were all

< 1 ppm after 15 days indicating no toxicity hazards. Differences of only

1-2 ppm were found between the wet and dry samples. The chemical already

is registered in the U.S. for several fruit and grain crops at much higher

levels of 15-25 ppm (Schafer 1979) .

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that late dough-stage sorghum (dura variety) can be

protected initially at application rates as low as 1 kg/ha when sprays are

directed only at the heads. This probably is near optimum effectiveness as

the residue level at this concentration was computed to be about 65 ppm.

These results, supported by more detailed tests on the role of adhesives

in Texas (Besser & Elias 1979) , suggest that the acrylic resin, Rhoplex

AC-33, when used at one part adhesive solids to three parts methiocarb solids,

probably interferes with or masks the repellent properties of methiocarb.

When adhesives are used in spray treatments in very dry climates, such as in

Sudan, ratios of at least one part adhesive to 10 parts methiocarb should be

used.

Although the results of these studies are encouraging, additional field-

word testing, particularly with fanners, is necessary to further delineate

the conditions under which methiocarb can be recommended as a crop protection

method.

40

H . Hamza et al .

MALIMBUS 4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful for the logistical support and cooperation provided by the

Sudan Government's Plant Protection Department (PPD) and Agricultural

Research Corporation (ARC) . G. Ghobrial, ARC Plant Physiologist and Rice

Specialist coordinated the rice seed dressing trial. Residue analysis was

completed by W. Okuno and A. Medbery, DWRC. Sadig Beshir, Salah Ali,

Yousif Ahmed, Ahmed El Rahman, and Safi Mahadi, PPD, assisted in certain

aspects of the work. The manuscript was reviewed by M. Fall. This research

was conducted with funds provided to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by

the agency for International Development under the project "Control of

Vertebrate Pests: Rats and Noxious Birds," PASA ID/TAB-473-1-67.

REFERENCES

BESSER, J.R. & ELIAS, D.J. (1979) Methiocarb sprays for protecting grain

sorghum from damage by house sparrows, Weslaco, Texas. Bird Damage

Report No. 107. Projects 912 and 914. 6 pp

BRUGGERS, R.L. (1979) Summary of methiocarb trials against pest birds in

Senegal. Proc. 8th Bird Control Semin., Bowling Green, Ohio, 8: 172-

184

BRUGGERS, R. , MATEE, J., MISKELL, J., ERICKSON, W., JAEGER, M. , JACKSON,

W.B. & JUIMALE , Y. (1981) Reduction of bird damage to field crops in

eastern Africa with methiocarb. Trop. Pest Manage. 27: 230-241

CALVI , C., BESSER, J., DE GRAZIO, J.W. & MOTT, D.F. (1976) Protecting

Uruguayan crops from bird damage with methiocarb and 4 -ami nopyridine .

Proc. 7th Bird Control Semin., Bowling Green, Ohio, 7: 255-258

CRASE, F.T. & DEHAVEN, R.W. (1976) Methiocarb: its current status as a

bird repellent. Proc. 7th Vertebr. Pest Conf . , Monterey, California,

7: 46-50

DE GRAZIO, J.W. (1978) World bird damage problems. Proc. 8th Vertebr.

Pest Conf., Sacramento, California, 8: 9-24

DE GRAZIO, J.W. & DEHAVEN, R.W. (1974) Vertebrate damage control research

--quelea bird problems in African agriculture. USAID/USFWS Denver

Wildlife Research Center, International Programs Annual Report. 28 pp

GRAS, G., HASSELMAN, C., PELLISIER, C. & BRUGGERS, R. (1981) Residue

analysis of methiocarb applied to ripening sorghum as a bird repellent

in Senegal. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26: 393-400

GREENHALGH , R. , MARSHALL, W.D. & KING, R.R. (1976) Tri f luoracetylation of

Mesurol [4-Methy lthio-3 , 5 xylyl-N-methylcarbamate^ , its sulfoxide,

sulfone, and phenol analogs for analysis by gas chromatography. J.

Agric. Food Chem. 24: 266-270

GUARINO, J.L. (1972) Methiocarb, a chemical repellent: a review of its

effectiveness on crops. Proc. 5th Vertebr. Pest Conf., Fresno,

California, 5: 108-111

MAGOR, J. (1974) Quelling the quelea — bird plague of Africa. Spectrum

118: 8-11

MARTIN, L. (1976) Tests of bird damage control measures in Sudan, 1975.

Proc. 7th Bird Control Semin., Bowling Green, Ohio, 7: 259-266

1982

METHIOCARB REPELLANCY

41

MARTIN, L.R. & JACKSON, J.J. (1977) Field testing a bird repellent chemical

on cereal crops. Vertebrate Pest Control and Management Materials ,

ASTM STP 680, R. E. Marsh, ed., American Society for Testing and

Materials, pp. 177-185

ROGERS, J.G., JR. (1974) Responses of caged red-winged blackbirds to two

types of repellents. J. Wildl. Manage. 38: 418-423

ROGERS, J.G., JR. (1978) Some characteristics of conditioned aversion in

red-winged blackbirds. Auk 95: 362-369

SCHAFER, E.W., JR. (1979) Registered bird damage control chemicals. Pest

Control (June) , pp. 36-39

SHEFTE , N., BRUGGERS, R.L. & SCHAFER, E.W. , JR. (1982) Repellency and

toxicity of three bird control chemicals to four species of African

grain-eating birds. J. Wildl. Manage. 46(2):

SHUMAKE, S.A., GADDIS, S.E. & SCHAFER, E.W., JR. (1976) Behavioral

response of quelea to methiocarb (MesurolR) . Proc. 7th Bird Control

Semin., Bowling Green, Ohio, 7: 250-254

M. Hamza, B. Ali , I. El Haig, Department of Plant Protection ,

Ministry of Agriculture , Khartoum, Sudan

and

W. Bohl , J. Besser, J. De Grazio, R. Bruggers , Denver Wildlife

Research Center, Building 16, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 USA

MALIMBUS 4

Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens

Nigeria. Photo: Philip Blasdale

43

BREEDING OF BLACK-HEADED BEE-EATERS IN NIGERIA

by M. Dyer, C. H. Fry and J. A. Hendrick

Received 12 March 1982

The Black-headed Bee-eater Merops ( Bombylonax ) breweri is one of the least

known members of its family. No nest has previously been reported, nor

field notes published other than by Chapin (1939) . West of the Congo basin

the species has been discovered at only two locations. In Ghana a pair and

a singleton a few km away were seen in 1952 near Mankrong on the Affram

River at 06°41'N 00°19'W, an area now inundated by Lake Volta (M. J.

Horwood, pers. comm, to C.H.F.). In Nigeria one was collected in Mamu

Forest (06° 10 ' N 07°10'E) in 1953 and another, undated, nearby at Idah

(07°07'N 06°45'E) on the lower Niger (Elgood 1982) .

Black-headed Bee-eaters were re-discovered in this same region of

southern Nigeria in January 1980 by J.A.H. (Hendrick 1980), as noticed with

an accompanying photograph in Malimbus 3 (1981): 51. A pair, later with a

third adult which may have been a helper as in several other species of

Merops (Fry, in press), was found at a nest burrow near Ugbabo (07°24'N

07° 00 1 E) and in 1981 J.A.H. found a nest at Alade (07°21'N 07°11'E) and two

more at Elubi (07°35'N 07°26'E). The five Nigerian localities embrace an

area of less than 25 x 100 km, centred on the Igalaland plateau at 300-350

m altitude, over 850 km from the closest point (Gabon) in the main range of

the species in the Congo basin.

Activity at the 1980 nest was studied by Hendrick (1980) and M.D. and

the Elubi nests were watched by M.D. and J.A.H. and kept under continuous

observation by C.H.F. in a hide from 23 to 26 March. The following account

supplements that of Hendrick (loc. cit.) .

Habitat

Igalaland is a mosaic of farmland, Oil-Palm Elaeis guineensis forest and

immature forest with patches of disturbed mature forest rooted in dystric

nitrosols and orthic acrisols (Anon 1980) . Forest with continuous .canopy

is generally absent in the area, and the appearance of the habitat is that

of forest/savanna ecotone. Patches of cultivation are fringed with the tall

annual weed Eupatorium odoratum . M . breweri inhabits degraded palm forest

(Dawtrey 1979) characterized by Oil-Palm plantations with scattered stands

of forest dominated by Chlorophora excelsor , Albizia adianthi folia and

Irvingia gabonensis . The birds foraged in open secondary growth around

cultivated fields, and in plantations, thickets and disturbed woods. Nest

burrows were in a heap of soft lateritic soil dumped from a roadside

drainage ditch; roadside banks of hard sand and compacted sandy laterite;

and a hoed sandy- loam field cleared of vegetation except for scattered

cassava shrubs and a number of tall dead trees, surrounded by much-

disturbed woods.

44

M. Dyer, C.H. Fry & J.A. Hendrick

MALIMBUS 4

Foraging Behaviour

Hunting was mainly from low perches, within 4 m of the ground, either a thin

horizontal limb over the roadside or other place with fairly open airspace,

or inside a thicket with very restricted room for manoeuvre. From the

former perches prey-capture was typically meropid in execution, a short,

quite rapid, gliding flight declining towards airborne prey, which was taken

back to the perch for vigorous beating. In pursuit of prey the very round

wings of this species make it look unlike the pointed-winged savanna bee-

eaters. In restricted airspace M. breweri had a more flapping, less sailing

pursuit flight, with short adroit chases through the vegetation. Most prey

was airborne, but one bird at the Ugbabo nest sometimes hunted like a drongo,

swooping down to snatch an insect from vegetation a few cm above ground

level .

Food

Items taken into nests were mainly hawkmoths and cicadas, with fewer butter-

flies and beetles (and possibly grubs). Nest litter included carpenter-bees

Xy locopa sp. and cetoniine beetles Plaesiorrhina recurva in abundance, also

worker Honeybees Apis mellifera, wasps Belanogaster sp. ( Vespidae) , Chlorion

maxillosum and Philanthus sp. (Sphecidae) and ruteline beetles (M. Walters

pers . comm, to J.A.H.). 66 insects identified from pellet remains in

another nest comprised 16 worker Honey-bees, 10 other Apidae of 10 species,

2 Philanthus and 4 other sphecids, 1 pompilid wasp, 17 vespids of five

species, 3 alate ants, 1 acridid grasshopper, 1 cicada, and 11 beetles of

five species I (including cetoniines and coprines) (det. C.H.F.).

Attendance at Nests

The disparity in size of the two eggs photographed by Hendrick (1980)

strongly suggests that one was a honeyguide ' s ; if this nest had been

parasitized that might be the reason for its failure soon after the evident

hatching (and disappearance) of a third egg. The Alade nest was deserted

after one of the birds had been caught by a boy and kept in captivity until

it died (the specimen was obtained and presented to the British Museum) ;

the Elubi nests both held young nestlings when discovered. On 24 March

three nestlings were extracted from one nest (and returned there after

examination, when adults immediately resumed feeding them) - they were about

10-14 days old and weighed 34, 40 and 43 g. The dead, starved adult weighed

41.5 g and an adult netted on 26 March was 54 g.

The three adults at the Ugbabo nest often perched together above the

burrow but because of its location in a road-cut, the frequent passage of

vehicles and pedestrians prevented them from feeding the young regularly.

Although it was suspected that all three were entering the nest with food,

it could not be ascertained that the third bird was definitely a helper.

Each Elubi nest was attended by its parents only; evidently neither

pair had a helper. All four were individually identifiable by streamer

length (which was 83 mm longer than the tail in the bird netted) , and none

of them entered the other nest despite its proximity, only 7 m away on the

opposite side of a metalled minor road. Some motor traffic, and consider-

able foot traffic on market days, did not disturb them unduly and the nest

feeding rate between 0800 and 1700 h averaged 6/h .

1982

BLACK-HEADED BEE-EATERS

45

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to thank M. E. Bacchus, G. R. Else, 0. W. Richards and C. T. Vardy

for the identification of insects, M. Walters for his good offices at the

British Museum, and M. J. Horwood for his helpful correspondence.

REFERENCES

ANON (1980) The Regional Plan Atlas of Benue State. Min. Economic

Planning, Lagos

CHAPIN, J.P. (1939) The Birds of the Belgian Congo. Vol. 2. Bull. Amer.

A/us. Nat. Hist. 75: 1-632

DAWTREY, B. (1979) The influence of farming and fire on the vegetation of

Igalaland. Elaeis 1: 43-54

ELGOOD, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. British Ornithologists' Union,

London

FRY, C.H. (in press) The Bee-eaters : Evolutionary Biology of the

Meropidae . T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton

HENDRICK, J. (1980) 'That bird' Bombylonax greweri (sic) (Cassin) . Elaeis

2: 63-66

M. Dyer, Canadian Wildlife Service, Revelstoke , British Columbia VOE 2SO ,

Canada

C. H. Fry, Aberdeen University Zoology Dept., Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen

AB9 2TN , Scotland

J. A. Hendrick , Ayangba c/o P.M.B. 2178 Kaduna , Nigeria

46

NOTES

MALIMBUS 4

ADDITIONS TO LOCAL AVIFAUNAS: ZARIA - The following birds new to the Zaria

area have been reported since the additions made by Dyer (Bull. Niger. Orn.

Soc. 13, 1977, 82-83). Observers: M.D. - M. Dyer, M.E.G. - M. E. Gartshore,

A.U.E. - A. U. Ezealor, C.R. - C. Ryall, H.O.P.C. - H. Q. P. Crick.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus About 20 over University Farm Lake in

early April, 1981 (M.D., M.E.G.).

Wigeon Anas penelope A female feeding with Garganey A. querguedula at

University Farm Lake, 10-12 April 1981 (M.D., M.E.G. , H.F.C.).

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus One over experimental plots near Bomo

Lake, Samaru, Zaria, on 31 January 1981 (M.D., M.E.G., A.U.E.) .

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus Observed at the same time as the above,

this distinctive raptor circled over fields and alighted, allowing very

close approach (M.D., M.E.G., A.U.E.).

Scaly Francolin Francolinus squamatus A pair heard duetting at about 0800

hrs . , 5 August 1981 in dense savanna woodland adjacent to gallery forest at

Anara For. Res. 5 August 1981. This observation represents a substantial

range extension north in Nigerian savannas. (It is common at Nindam For.

Res. near Kafanchan and Kagoro (M.E.G., C.R.)).

Finfoot Podica senegalensis An immature bird was purchased from fisherman

at Kubanni reservoir in February 1979. It was later released at University

Farm Lake (M.D., M.E.G.).

Kittlitz's Sandplover Charadrius pecuarius Six feeding on shore of

Kubanni reservoir in early April 1981 (M.D.).

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Two in winter plumage on Kubanni reservoir,

late March 1981 (M.D., M.E.G.).

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Its inland status in West Africa has

changed in recent years (Sharland Malimbus 3, 1981, 54) and it is now a

frequent visitor to Zaria reservoirs in the dry season (M.E.G., M.D.).

Black Tern Sterna nigra One with a White-winged Tern S . leucoptera at

Samaru sewage works in early April 1981 (distinguished by marginally

smaller size, darker colouration, dark pectoral area and greyish tail)

(M.E.G. ) .

Yellowbill Ceuthmochanes aereus Observed on several occasions in gallery

forest at Anara Forest Reserve; also at Old Birnin Gwarri (just outside

the Zaria area) (M.D., M.E.G.).

Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina At least three observed throughout the

wet season in dense gallery forest at Anara Forest Reserve (M.E.G., A.U.E.,

C.R.) .

Yellow-bellied Bunting Emberiza flaviventris A pair in August 1981, the

male singing (M.E.G.).

Melba Finch Pytilia melba Seen on several occasions from August, 1979 to

August 1981 at Samaru also in June 1980. This species is normally

associated with Sudan savanna and may be shifting southward in response to

1982

NOTES

47

changes wrought by more intensive cultivation (M.D., M.E.G.).

Black-bellied See cracker Pirenestes ostrinus Reported by Hartert ( Novit .

Zool. 22, 1915, 244-266) as a breeding resident near Kaduna, its presence

at Zaria has never been substantiated. Several were observed in tall grass

in a fadama area at Anara Forest Reserve in September 1980 (M.D., H.Q.P.C.).

M. E. Gartshore

606 Martins Road, RR3, Dun das , Ontario L9H 5E3

DESTRUCTION OF EUROPEAN WHITE STORKS IN NIGERIA BY SHOOTING - Even more note-

worthy that the number of Spanish- ringed White Storks Ciconia ciconia

recovered in Nigeria in the last two years - eight - is their fate there.

One was caught and released alive with its original ring; the other seven

were shot. Details are:

C 15540 Ringed 07/06/1977 (pullus) , Miajadas, Caceres, Spain 39°09'N 05°54'W

-/ 12/1890, Nguru, Nigeria 12°53'N 10°30'E Shot

C 14334 26/05/1978 (pullus), El Gordo, Caceres, 39°52'N 05°20'W

-/01/1980, Gashua, Nigeria 12°53'N 11°05'E Released alive

C 11390 26/05/1978 (pullus), Elmaraz, Spain 39°50'N 05°37'W

-/12/1980, Nguru Shot

C 18943 27/05/1978 (pullus), El Gordo

19/01/1980 Kano 12°55'N 10°30'E Nigeria Shot

C 18823 05/06/1979 (pullus) Brozas, Caceres 39°37'N 06°47'W

-/12/1981, Nguru Shot

G 01351 06/06/1980 (pullus), Munana, Avila, Spain 40°35'N 05°03'W

-/12/1981, Nguru Shot

G 03338 04/06/1981 (pullus), Casas Viejas, Cadiz, Spain 36°21'N 05°49'W

-/12/1981, Nguru Shot

G 03491 06/06/1981 (pullus), Casas Viejas, Cadiz

-/12/1981, Nguru Shot

All of the indications are that the Iberian/Maghreb population of White

Storks, separated from the larger east European population by an ever-

increasing distance, is in a state of decline (S. Cramp The Birds of the

Western Palearctic , 1977. See p. 329 and map p. 331) . Doubtless the

principal cause is drainage of European wetlands, but unnecessary persec-

ution in African winter quarters cannot help. 17 other White Storks have

been recovered in Nigeria since 1964 (R. E. Sharland, Ringing in Nigeria

... Annual Reports Nos. 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15-16, 17, 21 and 23, Bull.

Niger. Orn. Soc. and Malimbus) , ringed in Spain (6), Tunisia (3), Morocco

(1), Algeria (1), France (2), Germany (3) and Greece (1); two of them were

recovered at Azare (39°37'N 22°16'E) (one "killed" and the other "caught

by trapper and later released"), one at Biu (10°36'N 12°11'E), and the

remaining 14 at Nguru. The fate of the Nguru 14 has not been given but it

is safe to assume that they were all or nearly all caught alive by trappers

for the well-known Kano live-bird trade. Presumably that trade continues

unabated (R. E. Sharland, pers. comm.), with illegal destruction by shooting

a new hazard and an additional burden for the wintering White Stork

population to bear.

C. H. Fry

48

NOTES

MALI MB US 4

BRONZE MANNIKINS ‘ FLYCATCHING ' - On the morning of 8 May 1979 a light drizzle

was falling, the end of a rainstorm which had lasted all night. The rain

had brought out large numbers of flying insects, mainly termites. From

branches on a small tree near Obudu, Nigeria, about half a dozen Bronze

Mannikins Lonchura cucullata were flying out a short distance, catching

insects in the air, and returning to their perch in a manner more typical

of flycatchers. Fairly frequently they would miss the insect at the first

attempt and would hover briefly before seizing it at the second or third

try. This species feeds principally on grass seeds, and although Bannerman

(1953) notes that they may flock to a termite swarm and seize the insects

amongst the grass, he gives no indication of this flycatcher- _ike behaviour.

A. M. Heaton

Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve, Sevenoaks , Kent TNI 3 3DH , U.K.

Note: ' Flycatching' from termites and ants is common in a variety of unex-

pected birds (J. M. Thiollay , Alauda 38, 1970, 255-273) but the behaviour

has hardly been described in detail for any of them. Editor.

OUT-OF-SEASON COURTSHIP BY BLACK-FACED FIRE-FINCH - On 9 February 1979 I

observed a pair of Black-faced Fire-finches Estrilda larvata chasing each

other around a piece of scrubland near Obudu, Nigeria. When they settled

close together on a branch it was apparent that the male had a blade of

grass in its beak, holding it over its head like an umbrella. It hopped

sideways along the branch up to the female and away again; it repeated this

a couple of times before they flew off and I lost sight of them. This would

appear to be a form of courtship behaviour, and recalls similar behaviour

seen at Lama-Kara, Togo, by Cheke & Walsh ( Mali mb us 2: 118); however,

Mackworth-Praed and Grant (1970-73) give the breeding season for E. larvata

as July and August, well after the date of my observation.

A. M. Heaton

Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve, Sevenoaks , Kent TNI 3 3DH , U.K.

THE STATUS OF SAVI 1 S WARBLER IN NIGERIA - In his excellent check list of the

birds of Nigeria Elgood (1982) lists Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinoides

as a 'vagrant palaearctic migrant', qualifying it with 'possibly vagrant' in

the text. To northern Nigeria we consider that it is not a vagrant but a

regular migrant. In support of that we note that a total of at least 13

Savi's Warblers have now been netted in Nigeria including six at one

locality, Jakara Dam (12°40'N 8°10'E) near Kano, in the short period

November 1981-February 1982. One of these, collected on 22 November 1981

(BM No. 1981 - 11 - 1) , was in advanced primary moult suggesting that it was

at least temporarily resident; three were collected in December and one in

early February, all from dense Typha beds surrounding the dam. We believe

that the low number of Savi's Warblers previously reported in Nigeria may

reflect the earlier concentration of mist-netting activity in the periods of

autumn and spring passage; our birds were all netted in the intervening

period.

R. Wilkinson and D. J. Aidley

Dept. Biological Sci . , Bayero University , P.M.B. 3011, Kano. Nigeria

1982

NOTES

49

A COLOUR VARIANT OF SPREO PULCHER AT KANO, NIGERIA - During the course of an

intensive study of the biology of the Chestnut-bellied starling Spreo

pulcher at Kano I observed a number of very pale coloured individuals which

are described below. The normal plumages of adult and juvenile Chestnut-

bellied Starlings are fully described by Bannerman (1948) and I am familiar

with these. In adult plumage the pale variant differs from the normal in

that those feathers which are normally dark glossy green are instead a dirty

fawn glossed with silver, the normally dark brown areas of the remiges are

diluted to a dull steel grey (and show considerably more evidence of wear

than in normal plumage) and the belly is a pale cinnamon' orange rather than

chestnut. Such pale variants are not represented in the skin collection of

the British Museum (Natural History) and to my knowledge have not previously

been recorded.

One pale variant was observed at the Agricultural Department Farm, some

8 kilometres east of Bayero University, but all other sightings were of

starlings on the University campus. In January 1980 at least four of the

pale birds, all of which belonged to the same social group, whose focal area

centred around the staff school, were present on the campus. The Chestnut-

bellied Starling is a cooperative breeder with birds other than the parents

helping to feed the nestlings (Wilkinson Bull. Niger. Orn . Soc. 14, 1978,

71-72) and at least three pale variants and four normal plumaged birds were

associated with one nest of this group in April 1980. A single nestling

which had been colour-ringed at a different nest of the same social group

in October 1979 proved to be a pale variant which in juvenile plumage was

already recognisable by its generally pale colouration. The percentage of

this nestling was unknown but a nest in the same bush in June 1980, where

both parents were of normal colouration, produced a mixed brood of pale and

normal coloured chicks. Of three birds known to fledge from this brood of

five nestlings, two were of normal plumage and one a pale variant. No pale

variants fledged from nests of this group in 1981 and by July 1981 all pale

birds had disappeared from the study area.

R. Wilkinson

Dept. Biological Sci., Bayero University , P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria

SPANISH BLACK KITES IN WEST AFRICA - Recent notification of ringing and

recovery data indicates that some Black Kites Milvus migrans reared in

Spain evidently winter as far east in West Africa as Ghana. Details are:

DE 08949 14/06/1972 (pullus) , Reserva Biologica Donana, Spain 37°02'N 03°27'W

-/11/1973, Agbenohoe, Ghana 07°00'N 00°25'E (road casualty)

MD 14782 22/06/1977 (pullus), Pescueza, Caceres, Spain 39°54'N 06°39'W

07/12/1977, Bolgatanga, Ghana 10°44'N 00 ° 5 3 ' W (caught alive)

MD 12641 25/06/1977 (pullus), Nava del Rey, Valladolid, Spain 41°19'N 05°05'W

15/01/1979, Tamale, Ghana 09°26'N 00°49'W (shot)

C. H. Fry

Aberdeen University Zoology Dept., Tilly drone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN , U.K.

50

REVIEW

MALIMBUS 4

THE BIRDS OF NIGERIA by J. H. Elgood. Checklist No. 4, British

Ornithologists' Union, London, January 1982, pp. 246. Price £14 (£10 to

B.O.U. members) .

In 1964 J. H. Elgood produced a provisional checklist of Nigerian birds

{Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc . 1, 13-25) which later became the basis of two

privately-circulated lists (Parker 1970 and Heigham 1975) , each with its own

species additions and omissions, and nomenclatural and taxonomic preferences.

With the publication of The Birds of Nigeria ornithologists have at last a

standardised reference list of Nigerian birds.

The previous lists were just that - lists. But this work offers far

more: a comprehensive and invaluable summary of the Nigerian ornithological

scene, past and present. The first 50 pages cover topography, climate and

vegetation of Nigeria; migration (Palaearctic and intra-African) ; breeding

seasons, population trends and conservation. I regard this section as one

of the volume's highlights and it should prove indispensible to anyone

wishing to know, in a nutshell, the relationship of the country's avifauna

to its environment.

The species treated in the annotated systematic list include all those

recorded up until the end of 1980, a total of 838. The author has followed

White's (1960-1965) taxonomy, but one wishes that he had offered some

opinions on certain taxonomic inconsistencies, such as the inclusion of the

Black-faced Fire-finch in Estrilda rather than Lagonosticta . Each species

receives up to ten lines of comment, indicating its relative abundance,

general habitat preference, distribution, migratory behaviour and breeding

status. With such a large number of species to deal with, errors and

omissions are surprisingly few. One glaring omission, however, the the

Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus which, oddly enough, is mentioned in

the paragraph on the Black-headed Gull (p. 93) . It is easy to find errors

in distribution amongst species with which one is familiar, and one cannot

fault the author if he has not been kept informed. All the same I would

like to set the record straight on two species reported for Kagoro. In

April 1977, John Elgood and I heard a bird in the forest there that was

unfamiliar to me but sounded familiar to him; he believed it was a Red-

cheeked Wattle-eye Platgsteira hlissetti . After many hours of netting, and

finally watching it singing, it turned out to be an Olive Green Camaroptera

Camaroptera chloronota . Likewise a call I assumed was of the Red-sided

Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis proved to be the territorial 'song' of the

Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus . The wattle-eye and broadbill are

noted in The Birds of Nigeria to occur at Kagoro, and I accept full

responsibility for those errors since I did not inform the author of my

subsequent discoveries.

This book is a must for anyone interested in Nigerian ornithology, and

all of us who have yet unpublished notes on Nigerian bird distribution and

breeding records must surely be stimulated by it to get our observations

into print.

It appears at a time when, because of intense human population pressure,

the natural vegetation of Nigeria is undergoing disastrous and irreversible

changes. How these changes will affect the avifauna is still open to

question, but the future of many forest species is bleak. The Birds of

Nigeria is not just an annotated checklist, but an historical document whose

ornithological value must increase with every Nigerian tree felled.

M . Dye r

1982

NOTICES

51

La Direction des Parcs Nationaux (BP 5135 Dakar - Senegal) porte a la

connaissance de tous les ornithologues que 55 Pelicans blancs sub-adultes

ont ete bagues au Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj le 29 janvier 1982.

Les bagues sont soit en Darvic de couleur jaune (BIRO) n° s 002 a 095, soit

en aluminium orange n° s S.A. 420 -34-38-40-63-66-69. En cas de

reprise ou d 'observation, priere d'ecrire a l'adresse susmentionnee .

55 pelicans in the Djoudj National Park in Senegal have been ringed with

yellow Darvic rings numbered 002 to 095 and orange aluminium rings S.A. 420

34-38-40-63-66-69. Please report any sightings to: La Direction

des Parcs Nationaux, BP 5135, Dakar.

BIRDS AND MAN : A SYMPOSIUM

The Witwatersrand Bird Club, a branch of the Southern African Ornithological

Society, is holding a symposium on BIRDS AND MAN in Johannesburg from 10 to

15 April 1983. Internationally renowned speakers have been invited and the

following sessions are envisaged:

11 April Exotic Birds in Cities

Indigenous Birds in Cities

12 April Indigenous Birds and Exotic Plants

Exotic Birds and Indigenous Plants

13 April Birds and Manmade Lakes

Miscellaneous - Bird/Man Interactions

Excursions are planned for 14 and 15 April. For information pamphlet please

write to the Symposium Secretary, PO Box 72091, Parkview, Johannesburg, 2122

CODED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGY 1981

Now available, unbound, at £1.00 in U.K., £2.00 overseas (surface mail) or

£2.50 overseas (air mail) from C. H. Fry, Zoology Department, Tillydrone

Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, U.K. Orders will be accepted only if

accompanied by self-addressed envelope of size to accommodate this issue

of Malimbus, and either cash sterling or cheque drawn on U.K. bank or cheque

drawn on overseas bank adding £1.00 to above prices (for U.K. bank charges) .

COTISATION

Devant les difficultes rencon trees par les membres de la SOOA de la zone

franc a payer leur cotisation, Gerard J. MOREL vous propose que vous le

payiez sur son compte postal: C.C.P. PARIS, 76 82 63 Z.

52

WEST AFRICA!'] ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

MALIMBUS 4

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NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

Malimbus publishes papers, short notes, reviews, letters and illustrative

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CONVENTIONS regarding tabular material, dates, numbers, metric values,

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OFFPRINTS 20 offprints of Papers (but not of Notes) will be sent to a

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STANDARD WORKS WHICH NEED NOT APPEAR IN REFERENCE LISTS

BANNERMAN 1930-51 or 1953 : Bannerman, D.A. (1930-51) The Birds of West

Tropical Africa. 8 vols. Crown Agents, London; (1953) The Birds

of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh and

London

ELGOOD 1982 : Elgood, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. B.O.U., London

ELGOOD, SHARLAND & WARD 1966 : Elgood, J.H., Sharland, R.E . & Ward, P.

(1966) Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 108 : 84-116

ELGOOD, FRY & DOWSETT 1973 : Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett, R.J.

African migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 115 : 1-45 and 375-411

HALL & MOREAU 1970 : Hall, B.P. & Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of Speciation

in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

MACKWORTH-PRAED R GRANT 1957-73 or 1970-73 : Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant,

C.H.B. (1937-73) African Handbook of Birds. Series I, Birds of Eastern

and North. Eastern Africa (2nd ed.) . 2 vols. Series II, Birds of the

Southern Third Africa. 2 vols. Series III, Birds of West Central and

Western Africa. 2 vols. Longmans Green & Co., London; (1970-73)

African Handbook of Birds. Series III, Birds of West Central and

Western Africa. Vol . I, 1970, Non-passerines, Vol. 2, 1973, Passerines.

Longmans , London

SERLE & MOREL 1977 : Serle, W. & Morel, G.J. (1977) A Field Guide to the

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

SNOW, D.W. (Ed.) 1978 : An Atlas of Speciation in African Non-Passerine

Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

WHITE 1960-65 : White, C.M.N. (1960) A check list of the Ethiopian

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

Museums of Southern Rhodesia 3 (24b) : 399-430; (1961) A revised check

list of African broadbills ... etc. Lusaka : Government Printer;

(1962a) A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Parts II

and III. Occ . Pap. Nat. Mus . S. Rhod . 3 (26B) : 653-738; (1962b) A

revised check list of African shrikes ... etc. Lusaka : Gov. Printer;

(1963) A revised check list of African flycatchers ... etc. Lusaka :

Gov. Printer; and (1965) A revised check list of African Non-Passerine

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

MALIMBUS 4 (1) May 1982

CONTENTS

The Moult of Some Bird Species on Mount Cameroon. R. Eyckerman and 1

D. Cuvelier

Remarques a Propos des Buses ( Buteo buteo ssp.) Observees en Afrique

Occidentale. R. de Naurois 5

Comportement, Voix et Relations de Parents de l'Amaranthe du Mali

( Lagonosticta virata). J. Nicolai 9

Environmental Changes in Western Darfur, Sudan, over Half a Century

and their Effects on Selected Bird Species. R. T. Wilson 15

Note sur 1 1 Envahissement du Nord du Senegal par le Moineau Dore

Passer luteus (Lichtenstein) en Periode de Reproduction. P. J.

Ruelle et R. Semaille 27

Evaluating the Bird Repellancy of Methiocarb. M. Hamza, B. Ali,

I. El Haig, W . Bohl, J. Besser, J. De Grazio and R. L. Bruggers 33

Breeding of Black-headed Bee-eaters in Nigeria. M. Dyer, C. H. Fry

and J. A. Hendrick 43

NOTES :

Additions to Local Avifaunas: Zaria. M. E. Gartshore 46

Destruction of European White Storks in Nigeria by Shooting. C. H. Fry 47

A Colour Variant of Spreo pulcher at Kano, Nigeria. R. Wilkinson 48

Spanish Black Kites in West Africa. C. H. Fry 48

Bronze Mannikins ' Flycatching ' . A. M. Heaton 49

Out-of-Season Courtship by Black-faced Fire-Finch. A. M. Heaton 49

The Status of Savi ' s Warbler in Nigeria. R. Wilkinson and D. J.

Aidley 49

REVIEW:

The Birds of Nigeria by J. H. Elgood. M. Dyer 50

NOTICES AND ACCOUNTS

51,52

MALIMBUS

/<&

s a

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society y

' \

K'tr} ,

Kociete d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

VOLUME 4

198 ‘2

Number 2, October

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE DORNITHOLOGIE DE LOUEST AFRICA1N

Conseil 1982-1985

President Professeur Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J. Morel

Secretaire Professeur John H. Elgood

Tresorier Mr Robert E. Sharland

Editeur, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

La correspondance doit etre adressee comme suit :

- les manuscrits et les demandes des numeros precedents a 1" editeur

(Aberdeen University Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue,

Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, U.K.)

- les cotisations et toutes questions financieres au tresorier (P.0.

Box 342, Kano, Nigeria)

- les questions d'interet general au President (Department of

Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)

ou au Vice-President (Station d ' Ornithologie , Richard-Toll,

B.P. 20, Senegal)

- les autres questions au Secretaire general (26 Walkford Way,

Highcliffe, Dorset BH23 5LR, U.K.)

La Societe tire son origine de la "Nigerian Ornithological Society"

fondee en 1964. Son but est de promouvoir l'interet scientifique

pour les oiseaux de 1 ’ Ouest-africain et de faire avancer 1' ornitho-

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(anciennement the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society) .

Les demandes d" adhesion seront les bienvenues. Les cotisations

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* les cotisations doivent etre payees en livres sterling ou en francs

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AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : La Societe est tres reconnaissante de

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appartient le copyright de Malimbus .

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

53

Malimbus

Vol . 4

1982 No. 2, October

SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF THE PYGMY KINGFISHER CEYX PICTA IN WEST AFRICA

by Roger Wilkinson

Received 11 August 1982

In a recent paper on bird migration in southern Africa, Benson (1982)

contrasts the regular seasonal migration of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta

south of the equator with its apparent sedentary nature in the northern

tropics. Elgood, Fry & Dowsett (1973) could find little evidence for

migration of C. picta within Nigeria, although with more recent evidence

Elgood (1982) notes seasonal movements in some areas of the extreme north.

The purposes of this paper are to demonstrate that seasonal migration

in C. picta is widespread over the northern savannas of West Africa, and

to emphasize the continuing need for information on the seasonal occurrence

of birds in many localities in West Africa.

SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

Recently published information on seasonal occurrence of C. picta at

various West African localities is summarized in Table 1, where the

localities are listed in sequence of rising latitude. The data have been

culled almost exclusively from papers in Bull. Nigerian Orn . Soc . /Malimbus .

Table I suggests that, in the terminology of Elgood et al. (1973) , C. picta

is a 'southern concertina' migrant extending northwards for the rainy

season and withdrawing south again for the dry season. South of 9°N the

species is present throughout the year, whereas north of 13°N (and extend-

ing to at least 16°25'N in Senegal) it occurs only during the rainy season.

At intermediate latitudes it is either present all year (e.g. Pendjari and

Arli Nat. Parks), or is a partial migrant (e.g. Mole Nat. Park), or is

totally absent in the dry season (e.g. Kano) ; what happens probably

depends more on local conditions, like rainfall distribution and extent of

kurmi woodlands, chan on the precise latitude.

Table 1 overleaf

Text cont. p. 108

Table 1 Seasonal occurrence of Ceyx picta in West

54

Roger Wilkinson

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55

MORE BIRD RECORDS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF TOGO

by Robert A. Cheke

Received 11 June 1982

Recently Browne (1980) and Cheke & Walsh (1980) have published

complementary papers on the birds of Togo; the former dealt with coastal

records and the latter authors mainly with birds in the north of the

country. From May to mid-August 1980 and from late August to early

December 1981 I was again based at Lama-Kara, in northern Togo, and

describe here some observations of interest made during the above periods.

These observations include records, marked in the following iisc with

asterisks, of 43 species which did not appear in the earlier list (Cheke &

Walsh 1980) . Coordinates of named sites are listed in an appendix but many

of the places mentioned were marked on the map in the earlier paper. The

order and nomenclature for all Afrotropical species follow Hall & Moreau

(1970) and Snow (1978).

* Tachybaptus ruficollis One on the Mono river 25 km east of Sotouboua at

08°33'N 01° 16 1 E on 4 November 1981.

*Nycticorax nycticorax Two beside the Mono river near Atchinedji on 4

November 1981.

Bubulcus ibis Ten at Cinkanse on 10 October 1981 is my earliest dry

season record and my latest is a single bird at Landa-Pozanda on 21

June 1980.

*Ardeola ralloides One near Naboulgou on 24 May 1980. Up to four in the

Tetetou area during November 1981. One 10 km N.W. of Anie at

07°50'N 01°08'E on 27 November 1981 and one at Sansanne-Mango on 7

December 1981. Also recorded by Browne (1980) and by Robinson (1972).

*Egretta garzetta One near Naboulgou on 10 October 1981 and another at

Tetetou on 10 November 1981. Also recorded by Robinson (1972).

Ciconia episcopus Five at Naboulgou on 19 May 1980 and another there on

24 May 1980.

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Two at Naboulgou on 19 May 1980.

Bostrychia hagedash Small groups recorded at Naboulgou in May and

December, at various sites along the Mono river in June, October,

November and December, beside the Ogou river in September and

October, beside the Anie river in October and the Kpaza river in June.

* Sarkidiornis melanotos Two on a bank beside the Oti river south of

Sansanne-Mango on 7 December 1981.

Nettapus auritus A pair at Naboulgou on 25 May 1981.

55

Robert A. Cheke

MALIMBUS 4

*Anas querquedula A pair at Naboulgou on 10 October 1981.

*Trigonoceps occipitalis One at 08°43'N 01°16'E in gallery forest beside

the Mono river on 20 October 1981.

*Pseudogyps africanus One 5 km N of Blitta on 13 June 1980 and another

at 08°44'N 01°16'E on 20 October 1981. Recorded by De Roo et al

(1972) .

Polyboroides typus Recorded from various sites along the Mono river in

May, June, October, November and December. One at Landa-Pozanda on 5

September 1981.

*Terathopius ecaudatus One at 09°04'N 00°44'E on 19 May 1980, one 15 km

E of Aou Losso at 08°43'N 01°12'E on 12 June 1980 and another at the

same site on 28 October 1981.

Buteo auguralis Recorded on seven different occasions in the Sokode area

in May, June, October and November.

Butastur rufipennis One near Tetetou on 26 November 1981 is my most

southerly record.

Polemaetus bellicosus Two in the Keran reserve near Naboulgou on 25 May

1980.

*Hieraatus fasciatus One 20 km E of Aou Losso at 08°41'N 01°15'E on 22

October 1981 and another being mobbed by Pied Hornbills Tockus

fasciatus near Tetetou on 28 November 1981.

*Aquila wahlbergi One near Bafilo on 15 June 1980.

*Haliaetus vocifer A juvenile beside the Anie river near Tchebebe at

08°23'N 00°58'E on 28 October 1981 and an adult near Tetetou on 19

November 1981.

*Chelictinia riocourii One as far south as Bafilo on 27 October 1981 and

another at Sansanne-Mango on 7 December 1981.

Pandion haliaetus One seen beside the Mono river south of Tetetou

(at 06°53'N 01°36'E) on 10 November, 28 November and 3 December 1981.

*Falco alopex One near Pewa on 22 June 1980.

*Francolinus albogularis One near Landa-Pozanda on 18 October 1981.

Recorded by De Roo et al (1969) .

Porphyrio alleni One at Lama- Kara on 19 July 1980.

Podica senegalensis During May to July 1980 this species was recorded

from many rivers including the Mono (as far south as Tetetou and as

far north as 08°56'N 01°21'E), the Na, Koue, Aou, Anie, Pasa and

Kpaza (where one record was from high up in the Fazao mountains) .

During the dry season of 1981 I have no records other than from the

Mono river and all these were south of Atchinedji.

1982

MORE TOGO RECORDS

57

Charadrius forbesi Three at Landa-Pozanda on 16 May 1980. Two of these

were apparently paired as they reacted together against the third when

it alighted near them. The paired birds opened their wings a little,

lent forward, puffed out their chests to display their pectoral bands

and ran simultaneously at the 'intruder' which recreated by flying off

on its own. One was also seen at Landa-Pozanda on 2 June 1980 and two

were present there on 31 October 1981.

*Himantops himantops One at Tetetou on 26 November 1981. Robinson (1972)

recorded this species many times and it was also seen by Browne (1980) .

*Tringa ochropus Flocks of up to 20 seen along the Anie and Mono rivers

during November 1981.

*Tringa glareola One 10 km N.W. of Anie at 07°50'N 01oO8'E on 25 November

1981. Recorded by De Roo et al (1969), Robinson (1972) and Browne

(1980) .

*Tringa totanus One beside the Keran river at Naboulgou on 7 December

1981. Recorded by Robinson (1972).

Glareola nuchalis Records in Togo, including breeding by G. n. liberiae

and the occurrence of G. n. nuchalis at Landa-Pozanda, have appeared

elsewhere (Cheke 1980, 1982) .

*Columba guinea One at Landa-Pozanda on 21 June 1980, three at Cinkanse

on 30 September 1981 and one at Sansanne-Mango on 7 December 1981.

Recorded by De Roo et al (1971) .

Corythaeola cristata Five near Fazao on 27 June 1980 and two there on 13

July 1980.

Tauraco persa One at Tchebebe on 12 October 1981 and another at Tetetou

on 28 November 1981.

Climator levaillantii One at Lama-Kara on 1 June 1980. A single at

Landa-Pozanda on 2 June 1980 and two there on 25 August 1981. One at

Lama-Kara on 17 October 1981.

*Cuculus solitarius One calling in the Assouakoko forest, 40 km N of

Badou, on 26 May 1980 and another calling and observed near Pewa on 6

September 1981.

Cuculus gularis One at Naboulgou on 25 May 1980.

Glaucidium perlatum One seen at Lama-Kara on 8 July 1980.

*Apus melba A group of about 50 birds seen in the Fazao mountains at

08°33'N 00° 40 ' E on 17 May 1980. Douaud (1957) recorded this species

from Togo in April during two different years and the few records from

West Africa were discussed by Moreau (1972) who doubted if they

referred to African residents. The only records from Ghana were in

February and March (Grimes 1974, Walsh & Grimes 1981). Snow (1978)

refers to the species as Tachymarptis melba.

53

Robert A. Cheke

MALIMBUS 4

Ceryle maxima Recorded from Naboulgou on 19 May 1980 and 7 December 1981.

Singles also seen in the Fazao mountains at 08°36'N 00°42'E on 13 June

1980, Landa-Pozanda on 11 October 1981 and beside the Anie river at

08° 2 1 1 N 00°58'E on 28 October 1981.

*Alcedo cristata One at 10°11'N, 00°54'E on 19 and 21 May 1980 and one at

Lome on 25 July 1980. Recorded by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

Ispidina picta Singles seen in 1980 at Naboulgou (25 May) , Lama-Kara

(1 July) and Sansanne-Mango (6 August).

Halcyon leucocephala One at Naboulgou on 25 May 1980 and one at Lama-

Kara on 1 June 1980 which was engaging in disputes, presumably over a

feeding territory, with an H. senegalensis .

*Merops pusillus Two at Lama-Kara on 1 June 1980. Recorded by De Roo et

al (1969) .

*Merops hirundineus One in the Keran reserve near Naboulgou on 25 May

1980 and another at Lama-Kara on 1 June 1980.

Merops albicollis A flock of 50 seen flying over 09°04'N 00°44'E on 19

May 1980, 30 flying N.W. over Mo on 31 May 1980 and 32 flying in the

same direction above Landa-Pozanda on 1 June 1980. Three near

Tetetou on 28 November 1981.

Merops nubicus One near Sansanne-Mango on 30 September 1981.

Coracias cyanogaster Three seen near Fazao on 12 July 1980, two of which

were displaying by performing aerial acrobatics.

*Bycanistes fistulator Twelve near Paza on 17 May 1980. The extent of

white on these birds suggested that they belonged to the eastern race

B. f. sharpii (see Bannerman 1953, Snow 1978). De Roo et al (1969)

recorded B. fistulator from Aledjo but did not assign their specimens

to a subspecies. I also saw a flock of 20-30 in gallery forest along-

side the Ogou river near Goubi on 25 September 1981 and have other

records at various dates from similar habitats 30 km E of Sotouboua,

20 km S of Atakpame and in the Fazao mountains.

Tockus fasciatus Two at Lama-Kara on 29 May 1980 are my most northerly

records .

* Tockus erythrorhynchus One at Cinkanse on 7 December 1981. Recorded by

De Roo et al (1969) .

* Dendropicos fuscescens One near Cinkanse on 6 August 1980.

Hirundo smithii Two pairs bred at Landa-Pozanda in 1981. On 24 October

two active nests were found, one contained three 3-4 day old chicks

and the other also supported young but was in an inaccessible

position. The -species probably also bred there in 1980 as eight

birds, including some juveniles, were seen roosting near a recently

vacated nest on 28 May.

1982

MORE TOGO RECORDS

59

Hirundo lucida Bred at Naboulgou in May 1980. The species probably also

breeds further south as a pair were seen feeding fledglings at Fazao

on 12 July 1980 and of about 25 present at Lama-Kara on 5 August 1980

many were juveniles.

*Hirundo aethiopica At least 30 were present at Fazao on 22 November

1981. Louette (1975) recorded an adult and three juveniles of this

species taken in March 1970 at Kolekope, also in Togo, in company with

H. lucida. Louette 1 s records were the first for Togo of H. aethiopica

which is usually allopatric with H. lucida, the western representative

of the superspecies (Hail & Moreau 1970) . However H. aethiopica is now

known to occur in Ghana also and has been found breeding on the Accra

plains where it is thought to be a wet season visitor (Grimes 1972,

J. F. Walsh pers. comm.) . In addition, two were seen by J . F. Walsh

on 5 May 1971 at Sugu (09°00'N 00°58'W) in Ghana, a town where H.

lucida is known to breed (J. F. Walsh, pers. comm.) . Also H. lucida

has been found as far east as Jebba (09°08'N 04°49'E) in Nigeria

(Bannerman 1953) . These records, confirming an overlap in the species'

ranges suggest that further studies of their migrations and ecology

would be of interest.

Hirundo senegalensis Three at Lama-Kara on 8 July 1980 and two at Fazao

on 13 July 1980.

Hirundo fuligula One near Aledjo on 16 May 1980. Three at Djamde on 8

June 1980 and a pair seen at Pewa on 19 June 1980, 23 August 1981 and

6 September 1981.

Hirundo preussi At least twenty pairs nested under a bridge over the

Keran river at Titira in June 1980.

*Psalidoprocne obscura A pair seen at 09°04'N 00°44'E on 19 May 1980 and

three at Fazao on 12 and 13 July 1980.

Motacilla aguimp vidua In 1979 I did not see this species north of

Sokode but in 1980 a pair were resident in Lama-Kara, where they

probably bred as one was seen carrying food on 18 July. On 31

August 1981 a juvenile was found injured at Lama-Kara from which a

male Ornithophi la metallica Schiner (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) was

collected. Blood smears from the bird were examined but no parasites

were found.

Coracina pectoralis One at Mo on 31 May 1980 and present in October

1981 at Landa-Pozanda where two males were seen chasing each other in

the presence of a female on 31st.

Chlorocichla flavicollis Singles at Lama-Kara on 1 June 1980 and at Landa

Pozanda on 31 October 1981.

* Laniarius aethiopicus One at Naboulgou on 25 May 1980. Recorded by De

Roo et al (1969) and by Browne (1980) .

*0enanthe bottae Three on grass-covered hills north of Detale on 7 Decembe

1981.

*Cercomela familiaris One near Pewa on 23 August 1981. Recorded by De

Roo et al (1969) .

60

Robert A. Cheke

MALIMBUS 4

*Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiven.tr is At least three pairs were present amongst

rocky outcrops near Pewa on 18 July 1980. Two of the males were black-

crowned forms (M . c. bambarae or M. c. cavernicola) but a third was

white-crowned (M. c. coronata) , the subspecies previously recorded

from Togo (De Roo et al 1969, 1971) . This observation of both forms

occurring sympatrically is of interest since Green (1980) recently

drew attention to the presence of these forms in close proximity on

neighbouring hills in Benin and discussed their taxonomic status,

which remains unclear. Both Bannerman (1953) and Mackworth-Praed &

Grant (1973) treated the white-headed form as a separate species. On

23 August 1981 a pair was present at the same site near Pewa and the

white-crowned male sang repeatedly from near the summit of an insel-

berg .

Sphenoeacus mentalis On 1 June 1980 near Lama-Kara one was seen carrying

dead grass, presumably for nest-building, into reeds beside the Kara

river.

Cisticola aberrans At least three pairs, with singing males, were at

Djamde on 8 June 1980. Also recorded from inselbergs near Pewa in

June and July 1980 and August and September 1981. Males were singing

there in July 1980 and August 1981.

*Sylvietta brachyura Three at Mo on 31 May 1980. Recorded by De Roo

et al ( 1969) .

*Batis senegalensis A pair seen at Fazao on 13 July 1980. Recorded by

De Roo et al (1969) .

*Erannornis longicauda Two near Lama-Kara on 1 July 1980. Recorded by

De Roo et al (1969).

* Terpsiphone viridis Seen near Sokode, at Naboulgou and at Mo during May

1980 and at Landa-Pozanda in September and October 1981. Also

recorded by De Roo et al (1969) .

* Anthreptes collaris One near Aledjo on 19 June 1980 and another at

08°33'N 00°40'E on 27 June 1980. Recorded by De Roo et al (1969) and

by Browne (1980).

*Nectarinia pulchella A male seen at Naboulgou on 24 May 1980 and

another near Sansanne-Mango on 6 August 1980. Recorded by De Roo

et al (1972) .

*Vidua orientalis Males seen at Naboulgou on 19 May 1980 and at

07°50'N 01°08'E on 25 November 1981. De Roo et al (1969) recorded

V. o. togoensis from Sansanne-Mango.

*Nesocharis capistrata One near Lama-Kara on 1 July 1980. It was a

juvenile bird since it had a grey head (Mackworth-Praed & Grant

1973) .

Lagonosticta rara One at Titira on 14 June 1980 and pairs at Aleheride

on 22 June 1980 and Fazao on 12 July 1980.

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster One near Aledjo on 22 June 1980.

* Buphagus africanus Two on a buffalo Syncerus caffer at Naboulgou on 10

October 1981.

1982

MORE TOGO RECORDS

61

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am very grateful to J. F. Walsh for his comments on an earlier

draft and for details of his unpublished records of h. aethiopica in Ghana.

A. M. Hutson identified the hippoboscid fly and M. A. Pierce examined the

blood films from the M. aguimp.

SUMMARY

Records of birds of interest seen in Togo during 1980 and 1981 are

provided. These include information on 43 species which were not included

in a list of birds seen in Togo between 1972 and 1979 (Cheke & Walsh 1980) .

RESUME

Renseignements sur des oiseaux interessants vus au Togo pendant 1980

et 1981 sont donnes. 43 especes presentees ne furent pas indues dans une

liste publiee des oiseaux vus au Togo entre 1972 et 1979 (Cheke & Walsh

1980) .

REFERENCES

BROWNE , P.W.P. (1980) Birds observed near Lome, Togo in 1976 and 1977.

Malimbus 2: 51-55

CHEKE, R . A . (1980) A small breeding colony of the Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis liberiae in Togo. Bull. Br. Orn. Cl. 100: 175-178

CHEKE, R.A. (1982) Additional information on the Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis in Togo. Bull. Br. Orn. Cl. 102 (in press).

CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. (1980) Bird records from the Republic of Togo.

Malimbus 2: 112-120

DE R00, A., DE VREE , F. & VERHEYEN, W. (1969) Contribution a 1 ' ornithologie

de la Republique du Togo. Rev. Zool . Bot. Afr. 79: 309-322

DE R00, A., HULSEMANS, J. & VERHEYEN, W. (1971) Contribution a

1 ' ornithologie de la Republique du Togo. 3. Oiseaux recoltes par la

deuxieme Mission zoologique beige. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 83: 84-94

DE R00, A., DE VREE, F. & VAN DER STRAETEN, E. (1972) Contribution a

1 ' ornithologie de la Republique du Togo. 4. Oiseaux recoltes par

la troisieme Mission zoologique beige. Rev. Zool. Bot , Afr. 86:

374-384

DOUAUD, J. (1957) Les migrations au Togo (Afrique occidentale) . Alauda

25: 241-266

62

Robert A. Cheke

MALIMBUS 4

GREEN, A. A. (1980) Two populations of cliff-chats in the Arli-Pendj ari

region. Malimbus 2: 99-101

GRIMES, L. (1972) The Birds of the Accra Plains. (Duplicated typescript).

GRIMES, L.G. (1974) Weather conditions in temperate latitudes and the

occurrence of Alpine and Mottled Swifts at Accra, Ghana. Bull. Niger.

Orn. Soc. 10: 38-39

LOUETTE, M. (1975) Contribution a 1 ' orni thologie de la Republique du

Togo. 5. Oiseaux recoltes par la quatrieme Mission zoologique beige.

Rev. Zool. Bot . Afr. 89: 618-620

MOREAU, R.E. (1972) The Palaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems.

Academic Press. London and New York.

ROBINSON, N. (1972) Bird notes from Republique du Togo. Bull. Niger.

Orn. Soc. 9: 85-89

WALSH, J.F. & GRIMES, L.G. (1981) Observations on some Palaearctic land

birds in Ghana. Bull. Br. Orn. Cl. 101: 327-334

Dr R. A. Cheke, Centre for Overseas Pest Research , College House,

Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ , UK

APPENDIX Gazeteer

1982

MORE TOGO RECORDS

63

Colony of Preuss's Cliff Swallow Hirundo preussi (=H. spilodera) ,

Titira, Togo, June 1980. Photo R.A. Cheke

River

64

MALIMBUS 4

A PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST OF BIRDS IN THE

KILIMI AREA OF NORTHWEST SIERRA LEONE

Diana P. Harding and Robert S. O. Harding

Received 12 July 1982

In 1980, the government of Sierra Leone decided to create a national

park in parts of Tambakha Chief dom, Bombali District, in the northwest

corner of the country on the Guinea border. The proposed park, the nation's

first, would unite two nearby but not contiguous game reserves: Outamba,

750 km^ in size, and Kilimi, 250 km^ . These areas were selected because

they contained some of the last sizeable populations of threatened or

endangered animals in Sierra Leone, including among others chimpanzees, at

least seven other primate species, and forest elephants. In addition, the

Outamba- Kilimi area sits astride the catchment area of two of the country's

largest rivers, the Great Searcies (Kolenten) and the Little Searcies

(Kaba) . It was hoped that by putting an end to swidden (slash and burn)

farming and preserving the forests still left in the area, accelerated run-

off during the rainy season could be avoided so that the 6,000 km^ of prime

agricultural land downstream from the proposed park would continue to get

enough water during the dry season. As an additional benefit, siltation of

the large rivers would be retarded and the freshwater fisheries, on which

many Sierra Leoneans depend for protein, would be preserved.

Since that time, implementation of the decision to create a national

park has proceded at a measured pace, but at this writing, final government

approval has yet to be granted. While the government as a whole favors the

park and the conservation ideals which it represents, certain political

realities have had to be confronted, chief among these being the resettle-

ment and compensation of the several hundred farmers still living within the

boundaries of the proposed park. Nevertheless, progress continues to be

made, and it is hoped that Outamba-Kilimi will be formally designated a

national park by the end of 1982 or early 1983 .

To assist in planning for the proposed park, the authors were invited

to undertake a survey of the large mammals in the Kilimi section, and spent

from November 1981 to May 1982 in that task. While our previous field

experience had involved mammals, and particularly primates, we have long

maintained an enthusiastic interest in birds. Work done during the past

twelve years in Kenya had already exposed us to many African birds, and we

decided that during the Kilimi mammal survey we would try to identify as

many of the birds we saw in the course of our work as possible.

Thus, while the checklist appendiced here is the result of serious

fieldwork, it is by no means an exhaustive list of all the birds in the

Kilimi section of the proposed park. Those familiar with the West African

avifauna will note immediately that the list is long on large, conspicuous

species and short on' the smaller, cryptic ones. It will also be apparent

that the area contains forest, savannah, and water birds. This is so

because, although the Kilimi section is largely tail-grass savannah, small

deciduous forests remain along stream valleys and hilltops, so that both

forest and savannah species of the same genus can be found there (e.g..

1982

BIRDS OF NORTHWEST SIERRA LEONE

65

Centropus leucogaster and C. senegalensis) . Finally, since the Great

Searcies (Kolenten) river forms the western boundary of the Kilimi area,

water birds are numerous.

We do not doubt that a complete survey of the Kilimi section of the

park would greatly extend the list we present here, and indeed, we hope that

such a survey will take place during the next year, for the area is far

richer ornithologically than our limited resources allowed us to document.

Nevertheless, since this part of Sierra Leone is an unexplored area as far

as birds are concerned, we hope this list will be of interest to

ornithologists and of value to any eventual survey of the region.

For convenience and consistency, we have used the classification of

Serle & Morel (1977).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Alan and Hilary Tye of Fourah Bay College, University of

Sierra Leone, for their help and encouragement. Nigel Wakeham of Freetown

was most helpful with field identifications, and Dr Peter White and the

Dept, of Biological Sciences at Njala University College provided greatly

appreciated support. We are also grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture

and Forestry, especially to the Forestry Division and the headquarters and

field staffs of the Wildlife Conservation Branch, who provided invaluable

help during our stay in Sierra Leone. Finally, financial support from the

Charles A. Lindbergh Fund, the National Geographic Society, and the World

Wildlife Fund - US is gratefully acknowledged.

Diana P. Harding and Robert S. 0. Harding , Department of Anthropology ,

University Museum F-l, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA 19104, USA

APPENDIX 1.

Species

Abundance

Nesting

Month

Habitat

Annotated list of birds observed in the Kilimi section of the

proposed Outamba-Kilimi National Park, Sierra Leone, November

1981-May 1982.

Sequence and nomenclature follow Serle, Morel & Hartwig (1977) .

A, one or two sightings; B, frequent; C, common.

* = nest recorded.

Numerals indicate months when species observed.

A, riparian; B, boliland (seasonally flooded grassland) ; C,

swamp; D, deciduous forest; E, savanna; F, human habitation.

X = habitat(s) in which observed.

66

D. P. Harding & R. S. 0. Harding

MALIMBUS 4

SPECIES

w

Q H

2 ^

pq m MONTH

< 2

HABITAT

A B C D E P

Ardea cinerea

A. melanocephala

A. purpurea

Scopus umbretta

Ciconia episcopus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plectropterus gambensis

Pteronetta hartlaubii

Gyps bengalensis

Neophron monachus

Gypohierax angolensis

Circus macrourus

C. aeruginosus

Polyboroides radiatus

Circaetus gallicus

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Butastur rufipennis

Buteo auguralis

Lophaetus occipitalis

Haliaetus vocifer

Milvus mi grans

Francolinus bicalcaratus

Numida meleagris

Podica senegalens is

Neotis denhami

Actophi lornis africana

Burhinus senegalensis

Vanellus lugubris

V. senegallus

Charadrius dubius

C. forbesi

Tringa glareola

T. hypoleucos

T. totanus

Pluvianus aegyptius

Glareola nuchalis

Streptopelia semitorquata

S. vinacea

Turtur tympanistria

T. afer

Treron australis

Tauraco persa

Corythaeola cristata

Centropus leucogaster

C. senegalensis

Macrodipteryx longipennis

Cypsiurus parvus

Ceryle maxima

C. rudis

Alcedo quadribrachys

A. cristata

B

A

C *

B *

C

B

A

B

C

A

B

A

B *

B

A

B

C

B

A

B

C

A

B

C

B

A

C

B

A

B

A

B *

C

A

12-5

12

12-5

1-5

12-5

1

12

1-5

12-5

12

4-5

3-5

12-5

11

12-5

1-5

12-5

4-5

12

4-5

3- 4

12-4

1-2

12-5

4- 5

12-5

3-5

12-1

12-5

5

12-5

2-5

3

12-3

12-5

X

XX X

X X

X

X X

X

x X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

XX X

X

1982

BIRDS OF NORTHWEST SIERRA LEONE

67

w

o

Three week old White-faced Scops Owl Otus leucotis in nest of Hamerkop

Scopus umbretta, central Mali. Photo R.T. Wilson

1982

69

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS WINTERING IN SOUTHWEST MAURITANIA: SPECIES,

DISTRIBUTIONS AND POPULATION ESTIMATES

by P . W . P . Browne

Received 7 May 1982

INTRODUCTION

Since the pioneering work (in so far as West Africa is concerned) of Morel

& Roux (1966, 1973), it has been known that many Palaearctic birds winter

in northern Senegal. There are also important wintering grounds for

Palaearctic waders, terns and gulls in northwest Mauritania (Banc d'Arguin -

Nouadhibou, Petetin & Trotignon 1972, Trotignon 1980). The inundation zone

of the Niger in Mali is another immense wintering area for Palaearctic birds

and information for that country has recently been summarized by Lamarche

(1980-81) . This paper reports on a study of Palaearctic birds wintering in

that part of Mauritania which lies between these three zones ( Fig. 1) .

The only previous work apparently consisted of two surveys from a boat of

c. 20 km of the north bank of the Senegal River (about 16°30'N, 15 0 40 ' W) by

Dr G. Morel (pers. comm.) in December 1963 and January 1964, an aerial survey

of 25 localities (mostly near the Senegal River) which attract water birds

by Treca and Roux (Roux et al. 1978 and pers. comm.) on 6 December 1975 and

records of recoveries of two ringed birds near Nouakchott in January 1978

(Trotignon 1980) .

I attempted to determine which Palaearctic species occurred, to

delineate the limits of winter quarters of those not found over the whole

area and to estimate the total numbers present.

All the observations were my own made in the months of January and

December 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and January 1982 (except for supporting data

collected in other months) . December and January were chosen to as to avoid

if possible the inclusion of passage migrants. Passage of Palaearctic birds

was found to be noticeable in November and again in February (as shown below,

it also occurred to a small extent in December and January) .

A total of 122 hours of observation was made at 73 different localities,

usually near main roads reached by car from Nouakchott, and including all

major types of habitat in southwest Mauritania (see Table 1, Fig. 1) . The

amount of time spent in each habitat (Table 1) was not proportional to the

extent of that habitat in southwest Mauritania. In fact, this part of the

country is about 90% dry steppe, little influenced by man (A in Table 1) ,

but only about 35% of my time was spent in such habitat. More time was spent

in wet habitats where most of the Palaearctic species occurred.

Because birds were quite visible on dry steppe with scattered bushes

and little ground cover, I was able to identify and count most small birds

in an area of about 30 ha (0.3 sq km) per hour (and greater areas for

larger birds) . The 30 localities visited in natural dry steppe were a

reasonably random selection, so I have been able to estimate the populations

of some species which seemed to be evenly spread.

70

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

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1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

71

3

id

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Id

72

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

SPECIES CONCERNED

Altogether I observed 103 Palaearctic species. 11 are excluded as being

probable passage migrants and 14 more because they breed in or near

Mauritania and their Palaearctic origin was uncertain. Three species'

identities needed confirmation. See Appendix 3 for evidence used in

including and excluding species. Morel (pers. comm.), Treca & Roux (pers .

comm.) observed Platalea leucorodia , Limosa limosa and Sterna leucoptera,

while Trotignon (1980) recorded the recovery of Stercorarius skua and

S. parasiticus . I saw none of these five species in December and January.

I counted the number of birds of each species at each locality on each

visit and subsequently the bird days were summed for each species in each

type of habitat. A summary of the records of the 83 (103-11-14+5) species

is given in Table 2. This shows the number seen in each type of habitat as

well as the number of localities at which each species was recorded. At

the end of the table is a summary per type of habitat. For localities at

which each species occurred see Appendix 2.

LIMITS OF WINTER QUARTERS

(a) Habitat preference

For 55 species which I observed, winter quarters were limited by

habitat preference. 45 species were confined to the vicinity of standing

water, either salt or fresh. They can be divided into four groups:

(1) Open ocean: along the whole coast:

Sula bassana. Sterna sandvicensis .

(2) Salt water shores and pools: the whole coast and pools in the Senegal

delta, mainly west of 16 °W :

Ciconia nigra, Pluvialis squatarola , Charadrius hiaticula , Limosa

lapponica , Arenaria interpres , Calidris canutus , C. ferruginea , C. alba

Haematopus ostralegus , Larus fuscus.

(3) Vicinity of fresh or salt water shores and pools (winter quarters (2)

and (4) combined) :

Egretta alba, E. garzetta, Ardea cinerea, Anas acuta, Circus pygargus ,

Charadrius dubius , Tringa hypoleucos , T. totanus , Calidris alpina, C.

minuta, Philomachus pugnax, Recurvirostra avosetta, Larus ridibundus.

(4) Vicinity of fresh water: mainly pools and lakes left by rain, which

gradually dry up as the dry season advances (Nov. -June) but are still

very significant Dgc.-Jan. The pools appear to be found right across

the country south of about 18°N. Also irrigated areas near Rosso

(16°31'N, 15°48'W) and Nouakchott:

Ciconia ciconia, Plegadis falcinellus, Anas querquedula, A . clypeata,

Circus aeruginosus , Coturnix coturnix , Tringa nebular ia , T. stagnatilis

T. glareola, T. ochropus , T. erythropus , Gallinago gallinago, Calidris

1982

PALAE ARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

73

temminckii , Apus melba, Riparia riparia, Motacilla cinerea, Anthus

trivialis , A. cervinus, Saxicola torquata, Luscinia megarhynchos .

The other ten species showed habitat preferences as follows:

(5) Where the influence of man was significant (mainly in or near towns and

villages) :

Milvus migrans, Hirundo rustica, Motacilla alba.

(6) Near water as well as man's influence (wet areas; on steppe near

cattle) :

Motacilla flava.

(7) In areas with many large trees:

Streptopelia turtur , Phoenicurus phoenicurus .

(8) Rocky escarpment and also around buildings:

Hirundo obsoleta, Monticola solitaria.

(9) Natural dry steppe:

Sylvia hortensis , Phylloscopus bonelli .

(b) Geographical limits

Thirteen species and one race were quite widespread but were not found

over the whole area studied, each being confined (or almost so) to one

section of the territory. My observations covered a range from 16°N to 19°N

and from 12 °W to 16°30'W. In this area there are 51 half degree squares

lying wholly or partly in Mauritania; I visited 17 of them (Fig. 1) . Because

the coverage was so sparse, I consider that half degree squares define the

occurrence of species with sufficient accuracy. Also this ties in with the

standard methods for mapping African bird distributions suggested by Ash &

Pomeroy (1981).

The amount of time spent in each half degree square was very variable

(Fig. 2) , but I was able to calculate an abundance rating of any species by

dividing the number of bird days by the number of hours of observation. The

rating takes the value 1 to 9 on a logarithmic scale (base: /lO or c. 3.2 -

see Fig. 2) . It has a wider range than the rating of 0-5 suggested by Ash &

Pomeroy, though the range can be changed easily. However, it is of a

different nature from theirs in that it is based objectively upon counts of

birds observed per hour instead of on a subjective assessment of abundance.

It has the advantage that scarcity, corresponding to low values of the rating,

can only be shown when the number of hours of observation in a square is

high. On the other hand, misleadingly high ratings can occur when the number

of hours of observation is very low, especially if the observer chooses a

relatively rich habitat for his brief survey. In the present study,

observations from all habitats were lumped together to produce tne ratings,

74

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

Table 2 Palaearctic winter visitors to southwest Mauritania: bird days in

each habitat and number of localities at which seen

Bird days in each habitat

Species

Dry

Wet

Number

of

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

75

* Habitats A, B, C, D, E, F, G defined in Table 1

76

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

though as shown in the bottom line of Table 2, the number of birds /hour

varied a lot from one habitat to another. More uniformity would have been

achieved by using only the results for natural dry steppe, but then less

complete geographical coverage would have been achieved. I would urge

other authors to explore the use of such objective ratings by counting all

birds seen and the number of hours of observation. The same rating can be

used to show seasonal distributions, as is done in Appendix 3.

The ratings are used in Fig. 2 to indicate the geographical distrib-

utions of the 13 species and one race. A layout such as this allows the

distributions of many species to be shown on the same map. By keeping the

position of each species constant within the square and indicating species

not found by it is easy to scan the map and pick out the distribution

of each species. This procedure is facilitated if a mask is made of the

size of the map, with one hole in the same position (eg top right hand

corner) for each half degree square, just large enough to reveal the record

for a single species. The fact that many species can be shown on one page

without the use of colour should allow distribution atlases to be produced

more cheaply.

Anthus campestris , Lanius senator, Sylvia hortensis and Phylloscopus

bonelli, exhibited a strong preference for southern areas. On the other

hand, Oenanthe deserti was limited to the northern part of the region.

Oenanthe oenanthe, 0. hispanica and Sylvia cantillans were fairly evenly

distributed except in the very north. Sylvia atricapilla , S. melanocephala

S. conspicillata and Phylloscopus collybita were observed only in western

areas. Calandrella brachydactyla and Oenanthe oenanthe seebohmi (the black

throated race, some specimens of which could be recognised in the field)

were mainly seen in the east.

ESTIMATES OF POPULATIONS

For eight species which were widespread and evenly distributed over the

natural dry steppe, it was possible to calculate approximately the

populations of birds in this habitat. Evenness of distribution was deter-

o

mined from the value of x based on observed occurrences (bird days) and

the number expected at each locality, given the number of hours of

observation there and that the number to be seen per hour was constant at

all localities. Of nine species occurring in five or more localities on

natural dry steppe, only Sylvia conspicillata gave a significant value of

X , indicating its distribution was uneven (ie flocking or bunching) , so

it was excluded. An estimate of the total population of each of the other

eight species was calculated by dividing the number of birds observed per

hour (on dry steppe only, therefore not the same as the ratio used for

calculating abundance ratings in Fig. 2, which refers to all habitats) by

the number of km^ searched per hour (0.3 km^ for all passerines except

shrikes, 0.4 km^ for shrikes, 1.0 km^ for raptors) and multiplying the

result by the number of km of dry steppe in the area where the species is

believed to winter (Table 3) . The total estimated population of these

eight species is 1,000,000 birds.

The only other species for which I have even partial estimates of the

wintering population were Milvus migrans and Motacilla alba. Nouakchott

attracted by far the largest numbers of both species and all those present

in Nouakchott often appeared to form a single group. I counted c. 300

M. migrans in January 1981 at the slaughter house, and twice during Dec.

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

77

Figure 2 Abundance ratings per half degree square of 13 Palaearctic

species and one race wintering in southwest Mauritania

Table 3 Calculation of populations of eight species on natural dry steppe

78

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

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1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

79

1978 I counted c. 3500 M. alba leaving the apparently only roost in the town,

in Eucalyptus trees in the town centre.

DISCUSSION

(a) Comparison with neighbouring areas

Publications dealing with Senegal (de Smet & van Gompel 1980, Morel

1972, 1980), northwest Mauritania (Petetin & Trotignon 1972, Trotignon 1980)

and Mali (Lamarche 1980-81) , together with the present paper, give

information on Palaearctic birds wintering in a vast area comprising the

western third of the Sahel and the southern Sahara (c. 17°W to 3°E, see

inset map Fig. 1) . In Table 4, I have summarized the status of 171

Palaearctic species which are considered to be winter visitors to one or

more of the areas: northwest Mauritania, southwest Mauritania, northern

Senegal (north of 14°N) and central Mali (nortn of 14°N) .

All but one of the 83 Palaearctic species found to winter in southwest

Mauritania have also been observed wintering in at least one of these

neighbouring areas. The exception is Phoenicurus ochruros , but that has

previously been recorded south of the Sahara in Mauritania (Atar, 20°31'N,

13°03'W, 7 April 1947, Heim de Balsac 1949-51) and in south Mali (Lamarche

1980-81) .

All aquatic species found wintering in southwest Mauritania also winter

in nearby northern Senegal, in similar habitats. In northwest Mauritania,

the aquatic species occurring in winter are mainly those found in salt water

habitats further south, though there are exceptions, eg Tringa stagnatilis

and Motacilla cinerea , which have only been observed wintering near fresh

water in southwest Mauritania. Even though aquatic species made up a

majority of the species observed in southwest Mauritania, they must

represent a minority of the Palaearctic winterers since suitable habitat is

very restricted. The birds of the dry steppe form the majority of the

wintering populations. There are a few species of raptor, which are much

the same as those found in northern Senegal. The most characteristic and

numerous Palaearctic birds are passerines.

For two species, Sylvia melanocephala and S. conspicillata , western

Mauritania west of 14°W is the main wintering ground south of the desert.

S. melanocephala occurs in northern Senegal occasionally (Morel 1972, de

Smet & van Gompel 1980), but S. conspicillata has not been recorded at all

in that country. Neither species has been recorded in Mali. S. melanocephala

is quite common in the vicinity of Nouadhibou in northwest Mauritania in

winter (Trotignon 1980) , but the records there of S. conspicillata are very-

few. Consequently it appears that the principal southern wintering ground of

that species is in southwest Mauritania.

The other two species confined even more closely to western districts

in southwest Mauritania, Phylloscopus collybita (west of 15°W) and Sylvia

atricapilla (west of 15°30'W), winter commonly in both northwest Mauritania

and northern Senegal but in Mali apparently only in the south (Lamarche

1980-81) . That these species and the two above appear limited to western

areas may be accounted for by the marked difference in type of vegetation on

the dry steppe as one proceeds from west to east. Non-spiny bushes and

trees ( Salvadora persica , Euphorbia balsamifera and Tamarix senegalensis)

80

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

Table 4 Palaearctic winter visitors to the western Sahel and southwestern

Sahara

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

F. cherrug

F. peregrinus

F. vespertinus

F. tinnunculus

Coturnix coturnix

P

w

W

Porzana parva

P. pusilla

P. porzana p

Gallinula chloropus p

Fulica atra p

Burhinus oedicnemus p

Vanellus vanellus p

Pluvialis apricarius w

P. squatarola W

Charadrius hiaticula W

C. dubius

C. alexandrinus W

C. asiaticus -

Numenius phaeopus W

N. arquata W

Limosa limosa w

L. lapponica W

Tringa nebularia W

T. stagnatilis w

T. glareola

T. ochropus p

T. hypoleucos

T. totanus W

T. erythropus p

Arenaria interpres W

Gallinago media

G. gallinago

G. minima

Calidris canutus W

C. alpina W

C. ferruginea W

C . mi nut a W

C. temminckii

C. alba W

Limicola falcinellus

Philomachus pugnax w

Phalaropus fulicarius w

Haematopus ostralegus W

Recurvirostra avosetta P

w

-* W

p* w

-* w

p* W

p w

W ' w

w w

A w

P w

p w

W W

w W

W W

w W

w w

w W

w

w W

P

w w

W w

W W

w w

W W

P

W w

W W

Cursorius cursor

Glareola pratincola

Stercorarius skua

S. pomarinus

S. parasiticus

Larus melanocephalus

L. tridactylus

L. ridibundus

L. genei

L. argentatus

a

P

W

P

w

W

A

P

A

P

w

P

w

W

P

w

W

w

p

w

p

W

A

w

82

P . VJ . P . Browne

MALIMBUS 4

L. fuscus

Sterna nilotica

S. caspia

S. sandvicensis

S. dougalii

S. hi run do

S. hybrida

S. leucoptera

S. nigra

S. albifrons

Streptopelia turtur

Otus scops

Asio flammeus

Caprimulgus ruf icollis

C. aegyptius

Apus melba

4. apus

A. pallidus

Upupa epops

Jynx torquilla

Calandrella brachydactyla

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

H. rupestris

H. obsoleta

Deli chon urbica

Motacilla flava

M. cinerea

M. alba

Anthus campestris

A. novaeseelandiae

A. trivialis

A. cervinus

A. pratensis

Lanius collurio

L. minor

L. excubitor

L. senator

L. nubicus

Sturnus vulgaris

Saxicola rubetra

5. torquata

Oenanthe oenanthe

0. hispanica

0. deserti

0. isabellina

Monticola saxatilis

M. solitaria

VJ

w

VJ

W

VJ

W

w

VJ

W

w

A

VJ

w

P

VJ

w

shos u id ? s s s'o s sss ss; ££ s >^0

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA 83

KEY:

Common

A

P

Scarce Status

a Observed in winter but probably of Afrotropical origin

p Palaearctic passage migrant

W w Palaearctic winter visitor (Dec. -Jan.)

Not recorded

* Will probably be found to winter in southwest

Mauritania

Note: A further 38 species have been recorded as passage migrants or

vagrants in at least one of these areas but are not known to winter

in any of them, so do go further south or have been overlooked.

84

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

are abundant in the west near the coast, while Maerua crassi folia appears

mainly west of 14°W. Salvadora persica and Maerua crassi folia are important

berry bearing trees. Spiny vegetation ( Acacia sp. and Balanites aegyptiaca)

occurs right across southwest Mauritania, but is predominant in the east with

the decline of non-spiny types. Humidity of the air is another factor; it

steadily declines on the average as one gets further from the coast (Toupet

et al. 1977) .

The only Palaearctic species wintering exclusively in northern areas

of southwest Mauritania (north of 17°N) , Oenanthe deserti, is common also

in northwest Mauritania but is very scarce and has only recently been

recorded in Senegal (Morel 1980) . In Mali it occur: south to 15°N (Lamarche

1980-81) . I often saw it in association with Sylvia conspicillata , where

the ranges of the two species overlapped.

The four species Anthus campestris , Lanius senator, Sylvia hortensis

and Phylloscopus bonelli which favour southern parts of southwest Mauritania,

as well as Oenanthe oenanthe, O. hispanica and Sylvia cantillans which are

more widespread, are all common on the dry steppe in northern Senegal. The

observations reported in this paper establish the known northern limits of

the winter quarters of six of these species in West Africa (all except

Oenanthe oenanthe which winters as far north as northwest Mauritania) :

Oenanthe hispanica and Sylvia cantillans about 18°30'N, Anthus campestris

and Sylvia hortensis about 18°N, Lanius senator and Phylloscopus bonelli

about 17° 30 1 N . These seven species occur east to Mali, where northern limits

in winter are given as 18°N for Oenanthe hispanica and 17°N for Anthus

campestris , Sylvia cantillans and Phylloscopus bonelli (Lamarche 1980-81

and pers. comm.). For a further eight species which are scarcer or require more

specialised habitats, the wintering records in southwest Mauritania appear

to include the most northerly in West Africa: Ciconia nigra (16°26'N),

Circus pygargus (17°07'N), Circaetus gallicus (17°20'N), Hieraaetus pennatus

(16°51'N), Streptopelia turtur , Riparia riparia, Phoenicurus phoenicurus and

Luscinia megarhynchos (18°04'N).

One species, Calandrella brachydactyla , was found to be common (espec-

ially in millet fields) in winter in southwest Mauritania east of 14°30'W,

but it is considered to be a passage migrant only in northern Senegal (Morel

1972) . In Mali it is common in winter south of 16°N (Lamarche 1980-81) .

Most ornithological work in Senegal has been carried out west of 14°30'W;

it can confidently be predicted that the species will eventually be found

to winter in eastern Senegal. 4

The common wintering of Oenanthe o. seebohmi in the eastern part of

southwest Mauritania (Fig. 2) indicates that this is the principal

wintering area of that form; for no other has been found. Lamarche (1980-

81) mentions it in Mali, but only "quelques individus" and Morel (1972) has

only two records for Senegal, both in April. This finding answers a question

raised by Heim de Balsac in 1951 as to where this bird winters, for he had

noted that they leave their breeding grounds in the Atlas mountains and had

observed two specimens in April south of the breeding area, one in southern

Morocco, the other in northern Mauritania. We can roughly estimate the

population of this race in southwest Mauritania. East of 14°30'W, 8 out of

25 Oenanthe oenanthe were black- throated (compared with only 2 out of 59

west of 14°30'W) . Since only the male has this plumage, that would indicate

the majority in the east are seebohmi , with a population of at least 50,000

birds .

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

85

In view of the finding of Morel & Roux (1966) that Oenanthe isabellina

was the commonest wheatear on 16 February 1965 80 km north of Rosso,

Mauritania (around 17°10'N, 15°15'W), it is surprising that I saw so few of

them, and these near Nouakchott. Possible reasons may be that I did not

visit the locality concerned, that their 1965 observation was outside the

December- January period and that there has been a marked climatic change

since 1965. Lamarche (1980-81) reports that 0. isabellina is the commonest

wheatear north of 16°N in Mali.

It seems likely that most Palaearctic species which have been recorded

as wintering regularly in northern Senegal near the frontier of Mauritania,

but have not so far been recorded wintering in Mauritania, will be found

eventually to winter there too. In Table 4 the 21 species concerned are

marked with an asterisk. 15 species are aquatic and six non aquatic.

It is worth noting that for a number of species which breed in the

Afrotropical zone as well as the Palaearctic, there is often no clear

evidence of the origin of the birds observed. This may lead to assessments

of status which differ among authors in neighbouring areas. For instance,

my assessment of Egretta alba as being a Palaearctic winter visitor and

Upupa epops as not so being in southwest Mauritania (Appendix 3) is just the

opposite of the assessment of Morel (1972, 1980) in northern Senegal only a

short distance away. The evidence available is different in the two

countries .

The finding (Appendix 3) of passage migrants as late as 14 December

( Asio flammeus) and as early as 20 January ( Upupa epops) was unexpected and

shows that there is only a very short time (about 5 weeks) when there was

no evidence of movement of Palaearctic birds.

(b) Estimates of populations

Of 24 species seen on the natural dry steppe, only eight were evenly

distributed (Table 3) . If the densities of these eight species are summed

within the geographical limits where each species is found, they average

about 10 birds per km^ at 17°N and 3 per krrh at 18°30'N. The other 16

species were unevenly distributed. Excluding a roost of 500 Streptopelia

turtur , the average density (calculated using the same assumptions

regarding area searched per hour as for the evenly distributed species) of

all 24 Palaearctic species is about 22 per km2 at 16-17° N, 16 per km2 at

17-18° N and 12 per km2 at 18-19° N.

Comparable densities can be obtained from other sources. Moreau

(1961 and 1972) estimated that about 155,000 birds migrate from the

Palaearctic into Africa per km of longitude. If we assume that these birds

winter from the southern edge of the Sahara to the Gulf of Guinea the

distance is 1,600 km; this gives an average density of Palaearctic winter

visitors to tropical West Africa of around 97 birds per km2. Elgood et al .

(1966) estimated in a similar way about 200 per mile2 or 77 per km2 for

Nigeria. These figures are averages based upon quite general assumptions.

Confirmation of their validity for northern areas derives from seven counts

of Palaearctic birds on a 0.25 km2 study area of bush savanna at Fete-Ole

in northern Senegal (16°13'N, 15°06'W) in December and January between 1969

and 1979 (G.J. and M.Y. Morel, pers. comm.). These give 99 ± 30 (95%

confidence limits) birds per km2.

86

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

These three estimates of 77-99 birds per km^ are about four times

higher than my estimate for the part of Mauritania lying only slightly north

of the counts made by the Morels. This may be partly accounted for by the

difference in techniques. We both used visual counts. However, they did

an exhaustive census of a small area by three observers. I counted the

birds I saw during steady walks at about twice their speed (c. 3.6 km/hr

instead of 1.7 km/hr), and assumed I could detect all birds present within

a certain distance. This assumption was based upon measurements of the

distance at which I first detected birds in the vicinity of Nouakchott, on

very lightly vegetated steppe. The further south one goes, the denser the

vegetation because of increased rainfall. Approximate rainfall annual

averages are (Toupet et al . 1977) : 16-17°N 300 mm. 17-18°N 200 mm, 18-19°

N 100 mm. I think it is likely that my density estimates for a given

species are quite realistic in the 18-19°N zone, but too low by a factor of

2 or 3 at 16-17 °N. This implies that the population of eight evenly spread

species is about 2,000,000 instead of 1,000,000 in southwest Mauritania.

Unevenly spread species are not included in this estimate; these apparently

are as numerous as the evenly spread species. Also I have excluded because

of insufficient evidence of Palaearctic origin (Appendix 3) Cursorius

cursor, Upupa epops and Lanius excubitor which occurred in numbers on the

dry steppe and which are considered Palaearctic winter visitors to Senegal

(Morel 1972) . Thus the total Palaearctic wintering population could well

be of the order of 5 million birds.

The records of Treca and Roux, obtained by aerial survey on 6 December

1975, show how difficult it is to estimate the population of water birds in

southwest Mauritania. This is because of the huge variation in the numbers

found on a given body of water. For instance, 44,900 Pintail Anas acuta

were counted on that day. The species was found on only six of the 22 lakes

inspected, in the following numbers:- 35,000, 8,000, 1,000, 500, 300, 100.

Yet, during a previous aerial survey on 5 November 1975 of the same lakes,

only 4,475 were present and the numbers on the same 6 lakes respectively

were:- 0, 0, 250, 0, 0, 0. The bodies of water in Mauritania form part of

a system which also includes lakes, marshes and irrigated areas in Senegal

(not included in the figures for the Pintail quoted above) ; conditions can

change quite rapidly as lakes dry out or according to irrigation needs.

This must cause large movements of birds between aquatic habitats in the

two countries, making calculation of wintering populations in Mauritania

alone rather meaningless.

Even though the number of species of water birds wintering in southwest

Mauritania probably exceeds that in the northwest, it seems clear that

southwest Mauritania does not rival northwest Mauritania as a wintering

ground for these birds, where the population is estimated of the order of

1,000,000 (Trotignon 1980) . However, the population of birds of the steppe

in southwest Mauritania exceeds that number, probably by several times.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Dr J.F. Monk for valuable comments on this paper,

Dr J.C.O. Harrison for examining slides of Saxicola torquata, Mr B.

Treca, Mr F. Roux, Dr G.J. Morel and Dr M.Y. Morel for making avail-

able to me unpublished data.

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

87

RESUME

Cette etude sur les oiseaux palearctiques cantonnes dans le sud-ouest de la

Mauritanie a ete menee au cours des mois de decembre et janvier 1978, 1979,

1980, 1981 et Jan. 1982. 78 especes furent identifiees par l'auteur et 5

(principalement des especes aquatiques) par d'autres personnes. La

densite des oiseaux terrestres cantonnes sur la steppe (surtout des

passereaux) a ete estimee a 12 oiseaux au km2, au nord et au moins a 22

oiseaux au km2 au sud; l'effectif a ete estime entre 2 et 5 millions. Les

especes trouvees etaient en general les memes que celles observees dans les

regions avoisinantes : nord du Senegal, nord-ouest de la Mauritanie et

centre du Mali. Cependant, de nouveaux quartiers divers furent decouverts

pour Oenanthe oenanthe seebohmi , Sylvia melanocephala et Sylvia

conspicillata tandis que les limites septentrionales approximati ves de

quartiers d'hivers en Afrique de 1' Quest furent etablies pour 14 especes.

REFERENCES

ASH, V.S. & POMEROY, D.E. (1981) Mapping schemes in the Afrotropical

Region. Ibis 123: 552-3

BROWNE, P.W.P. (1981) Breeding of six Palaearctic birds in southwest

Mauritania. Bull. B.O.C. 101(2): 306-310

DE SMET, K. & VAN GOMPEL, J. (1980) Observations sur la Cote senegalaise

en decembre et janvier. Malimbus 2: 56-70

HEIM DE BALSAC, H. & T. (1949-51) Les migrations des oiseaux dans l'ouest

du continent africain. Alauda 17-18: 129-143, 206-221; 19: 19-39,

97-112, 157-171, 193-210

HEIM DE BALSAC, H. & MAYAUD, N. (1962) Les Oiseaux du Nord-Ouest de

1' Afrique. Editions Paul Lechevalier, Paris

LAMARCHE, B. (1980-81) Liste commentee des oiseaux du Mali. Malimbus 2:

121-158; 3: 73-102

MOREAU, R.E. (1961) Problems of Medi terranean-Saharan migration. Ibis

103a: 373-427, 580-623

MOREAU, R.E. (1972) The Palaearctic-Af rican Bird Migration System.

Academic Press, London & New York

MOREL, G.J. (1972) Liste CommentSe des Oiseaux du SSnSgal et de la Gambie .

ORSTOM, Dakar

MOREL, G.J. (1980) Liste CommentSe des Oiseaux du SSnSgal et de la Gambie,

Supplement No 1. ORSTOM, Dakar

MOREL, G.J. & M.-Y. (1978) Recherches ecologiques sur une savane

sahelienne du Ferlo septentrional, Senegal. Etude d'une commaunaute

avienne. Cah. ORSTOM Ser. Biol. 13(1): 3-34

MOREL, G.J. & M.-Y., ORSTOM, personal communication

MOREL, G.J. & ROUX, F. (1966) Les migrateurs palearctiques au Senegal.

La Terre et la Vie 20: 19-72, 143-176

cont. p. 92

88

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

Appendix 1

Latitude and longitude of localities and hours spent at each

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

89

Appendix 2

Localities at which each species was observed

Sula bassana D01 02, Egretta alba E03 GOl, E . garzetta E01 G01, Ardea

cinerea E01 02 03 GOl 02 04 06, Ciconia ciconia GOl, C. nigra E03, Plegadis

falcinellus G05, Anas acuta E05 F02 G06 09, A. querquedula G02 05 06 08 09,

A. clypeata G02 06, Gyps fulvus A03, Neophron percnopterus B01 C02 G07,

Circus macrourus A17, C. pygargus E04 GOl 02 05, C. aeruginosus GOl 02 05

06, Circaetus gallicus C03 G07, Buteo rufinus A29 F02, Hieraaetus pennatus

AO 5 GOl, Milvus migrans A03 05 16 B01 09 12 13 14 E02 07 F02 03 04 GOl 02

04 07 09, Falco peregrinus Bll C02 G07, F. tinnunculus A03 08 12 13 25 B05

11 13 F03 G02 04 07 08 09, Coturnix coturnix G05, Pluvialis squatarola E05

07 F04, Charadrius hiaticula E05 06 08 F01 02 04 G09, C. dubius F01 03 GOl

02 04 09, Limosa lapponica E05 F04, Tringa nebularia GOl 02, T. stagnatilis

GOl 02 04 06 07, T. glareola GOl 02 05 06 08, T. ochropus GOl 02 06, T.

hypoleucos F01 G03 06, T. totanus E05 F02 GOl 02 06, T. erythropus GOl 02

05 06, Arenaria interpres E05 F04, Gallinago gallinago GOl 05 09, Calidris

canutus E05 06 F01 04, C. alpina E04 05 F01 02 04 GOl, C. ferruginea E05

F02 04, C. minuta E04 05 06 F01 02 GOl 02 04 05 06 07, C. temminckii G04 ,

C. alba E05 07 08 F04, Philomachus pugnax F02 GOl 02 05 06, Haewatopus

ostralegus E07 F04, Recurvirostra avosetta E05 F02 G02, Larus ridibundus

E04 05 06 08 F04 G04 07, L. fuscus E03 07 08 F04, Sterna sandvicensis DOl

02, Streptopelia turtur A12 G07 09, Apus melba G08, Calandrella brachydactyla

A13 B03 04 G05 08, Riparia riparia GOl 02 04 05 09, Hirundo rustica B05 07

08 09 11 12 13 15 E05 09 F03 04 GOl 06 07 08 09, H. obsoleta B12 C02 G09,

Delichon urbica Bll 12 F04, Motacilla flava A01 B04 05 E05 F03 04 GOl 02 05

07 08 09, M. cinerea G09, M. alba A09 13 25 26 B02 05 06 10 11 12 13 14 15

E02 F01 02 03 04 GOl 02 03 04 09, Anthus campestris A06 08 13 B03 04 05 G07

08 09, A. trivialis GOl 09, A. cervinus G09, Lanius senator A03 05 07 08 10

13 G02 05 06, Saxicola torquata G09, Oenanthe oenanthe A04 05 07 08 10 12

13 15 16 17 25 26 B03 05 12 13 15 E06 F03 04 GOl 02 03 04 07 08 09, O.

hispanica A05 07 08 13 14 15 16 17 20 22 23 24 25 B03 04 06 12 F02 G03 06

09, O. deserti A15 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 27 29 30 B06 08 12 13 14 15 16 E06

09 F03 04, O. isabellina B13 15 F03 , Monticola solitaria B12 C01, Phoenicurus

phoenicurus A03 05 12 F04 G09, P. ochruros F04 G09 , Luscinia megarhynchos

G09, Sylvia hortensis A01 03 04 05 07 13 14 18 24, S. atricapilla A05 17 B08

12 14 F04 G03 09, S. communis A01, S. melanocephala A13 27 Bll 12 13 14 15

E05 07 F03 04 G09, S. cantillans A01 03 05 06 08 10 12 13 14 16 18 23 B05 12

13 14 16 E04 F01 GO 5 09, S. conspicillata A04 07 13 17 20 23 25 27 29 B13 14

F03, Phylloscopus collybita A03 17 B06 08 11 13 14 16 F03 04 G09, P. bonelli

AO 3 04 05 07 10 12 13.

90

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

Appendix 3

Evidence for including and excluding certain species

1. Confirmation of identity of three species

12 x 40 binoculars were used.

Hirundo obsoleta : observed at Nouakchott perched on ledges of unfinished

houses at a range of c. 10 metres -- grey-brown ab eve with white spots on

tail, pale buff below with whitish unstreaked throat.

Sylvia conspicillata: distinguished from Whitethroat S. communis , which

also has a rufous wing patch, white on sides of tail, grey head and

whitish eye-ring, by call - a sharp rattling "trrrrrt" - and active

flitting behaviour, flying from bush to bush (Sharrock 1962) . Also the

season was different: Spectacled Warblers were seen only from 16

November to 21 February, whereas Whitethroats were netted in a garden at

Nouakchott 29 March-25 April and 19 September-25 October (nets set 27

January-13 June and 15 September-29 November) . No Spectacled Warbler was

netted (they did not come into the gardens), but one was shot by Mr C.

Lasausse (in my company) near Nouakchott on 7 February 1982. Identity

confirmed by wing 57-58 mm, emarginated 3rd-6th primaries, rufous patch

on wing (Williamson 1976b) . The specimen was deposited in the collection

of ORSTOM at Richard-Toll , Senegal.

Phylloscopus collybita: my impression, based on appearance, that no

Willow Warblers P. trochilus were present in winter was confirmed by

examination of birds caught in the nets referred to above - 24

Chiffchaffs between 27 January and 18 May and on 21 October and 37 Willow

Warblers between 22 March and 3 June (identification based on Williamson

1976a) . Also Chiffchaffs were heard in song at Nouakchott from December

to April whereas Willow Warbler song was heard only in April and May.

2. Palaearctic species which breed in or near Mauritania

26 species which breed in or near Mautirania as well as further north

(Browne 1981, Heim de Balsac & Mayaud 1962, Morel 1972, 1980) were seen

in winter in southwest Mauritania. *

For six species there was direct evidence of migration from the north.

Egretta alba, Ardea cinerea and Calandrella brachydactyla were observed

flying north in spring or south in autumn near Nouakchott (well away

from breeding areas) . For three species, Palaearctic races were identified.

Milvus migrans: all birds observed closely in December and January had

black beaks. In addition two found dead on 17 January 1981 had black

beaks and a wing length of 470 and 483 mm (upper limit of local race

tenebrosus is 454 mm, Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1970) . Falco tinnunculus

was observed over flat steppe, whereas the local race rufescens is

confined to rocky areas (Serle & Morel 1979). Saxicola torquata: a

male photographed at Nouakchott in November 1981 had the characteristics

of the west European race torquata rather than of any of the African or

eastern races - the whole underparts were rufous without a white belly and

the mantle was dark brown striped instead of being black (confirmed by Dr

J.C.O. Harrison in litt.).

1982

PALAEARCTIC BIRDS IN MAURITANIA

91

For the other species, the evidence is indirect, and based upon

seasonal presence or absence. The abundance rating (scale given in

Figure 2) of each of 24 species in two month periods (first letter of

months used) during the year over the whole of southwest Mauritania was

as follows :

F , M A, M

Ardeola ralloides 1 1

A. ibis 4 6

Egretta alba 2 1

E. garzetta 2 1

Ardea cinerea 4 3

Plegadis falcinellus

Falco biarmicus - 1

F. peregrinus

Charadrius alexandrinus 5 5

Cursorius cursor 3 4

Pterocles senegallus 1 5

Upupa epops 5 5

Alaemon alaudipes 4 4

Ammomanes cincturus 2 3

Calandrella brachydactyla 6 2

Galerida cristata 5 5

Hirundo obsoleta

Lanius excubitor 3 2

Corvus ruficollis 5 4

Saxicola torquata 1

Oenanthe deserti 3 1

Sylvia conspicillata 2

Rhodopechys githaginea 5 4

Passer simplex 4 2

* high value because of one large flock

J,J A , S 0 , N D, J

1

5

1

4

5

4

3

5

3

6

4

1

5

1

2

3

1

4

3

2

5

3

2

3

5

4

2

4

1

5

1

3

1

4

3

6

3

4

2

6

5

2

4

5

1

4

2

4

1

5

4

3

4

3

1

4

5*

4

3

4

3

6

5

2

4

1

4

3

2

5*

W

w

A peak in the column D,J indicates that the species is probably a winter

visitor. Ten species believed to have this status have a W in the last

column. For the other 14 species, I believe the evidence of Palaearctic

origin to be insufficient. As shown below, there was reason to think

that Upupa epops was on migration at Nouakchott in December and January.

Hoopoes were also seen further south, but in two cases song was heard,

indicating the local race senegalensis , which breeds in southwest

Mauritania (nest at 16°44'N, 16°05'W, 11 July 1978) .

3. Probable passage migrants

Ten species seen at Nouakchott in December and January were observed

only during either the first three days of December or the last two days

of January. These have been excluded as being probable late autumn or

early spring migrants (indicated respectively by A and S) : Nycticorax

nycticorax (A) , Ardea purpurea (A) , Pandion haliaetus (A) , Gallinula

chloropus (A) , Vanellus vanellus (A) , Numenius arquata (A) , Sterna

92

P. W. P. Browne

MALIMBUS 4

hirundo (A) , Saxicola rubetra (A) , Locustella naevia (S) and

Hippolais pallida (S) . Also the only example of Asio flammeus was one

flying south along the shore at Nouakchott on 14 December 1979. Upupa

epops was not observed at Nouakchott between 3 December and 20 January,

though they were common just before and just after that period,

presumably on passage. Records of Calandrella brachydactyla on and

before 6 December are excluded because birds were seen flying south

near the coast up to that date.

REFERENCES con t. from p. 87

MOREL, G.J. & ROUX, F. (1973) Les migrateurs palearctiques au Senegal,

Notes complementaires . La Terre et la Vie 27: 523-550

PETETIN, M. & TROTIGNON, J. (1972) Prospection hivernale au Banc d'Arguin

(Mauritanie) . Alauda 40: 195-213

ROUX, F., MAHEO, R. & TAMISIER, A. (1978) L ' exploitation de la basse

vallee du Senegal (quatier d'hiver tropical) par trois especes de

canards palearctiques et ethiopiennes . La Terre et la Vie 32: 387-416

SHARROCK, J.T.P. (1962) The field identification of Sardinian, Subalpine

and Spectacled Warblers in autumn. British Birds 55: 90-92

TOUPET, C., LACLAVERE, G. & MONOD, T. (1977) Atlas de la Republique

Islamique de Mauritanie . Editions Jeune Afrique, Paris

TRECA, B. ORSTOM & ROUX, F. CRBPO, Paris. Personal communication

TROTIGNON, J. (1980) Parc National du Banc d' Arguin . Comptes-Rendus

d' ActivitSs Scienti fiques (Oct. 77-F£v. 79) . Nouadhibou

WILLIAMSON, K. (1976a) Identification for Ringers The Genus Phylloscopus .

B.T.O. Tring

WILLIAMSON, K. (1976b) Identification for Ringers The Genus Sylvia.'

B.T.O. Tring

P. W. P. Browne, 115 Crichton Street, Ottawa, Ontario , KIM 1V8, Canada

1982

93

THE BIRDS OF CONAKRY AND KAKULIMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF GUINEE

by D. K. Richards

Received 21 May 1982

As far as I know, the birds of Conakry and Kakulima have not been

documented, although I have not been able to search the pre-independence

literature fully.

I lived in Conakry from mid December 1979 to mid May 1980 and again

from November 1980 to February 1981. Security in Guinee is very strict,

although this is now being relaxed to some extent; most of my early

records were made without the use of binoculars (their use was forbidden) .

In cases where I consider the identification less than certain, I have

marked the species other species whose identification is not positive

are placed in square brackets. A total of 178 species are listed below.

CLIMATE

During the months of my stay in Guinee the weather was humid and

mostly overcast, with visibility severely limited at times. The temperature

was always in excess of 30°C and the only rain experienced was on the

evening of 25th April 1980.

I did not reside in the area during the rain season; and in the early

part of my stay, travel around Conakry was greatly hampered due to security

restrictions. Thus I am sure many species will have been missed; hope-

fully, with the more relaxed security conditions coming into effect, a more

thorough coverage of the area will soon be possible.

CONAKRY

The city of Conakry is situated on the end of a rocky peninsular which

extends 14 km out to sea. The city itself is heavily populated and dense

suburbs stretch as far as the airport on the southern coast, and for 10 km

along the northern coast. The centre of the peninsular is formed by higher

ground consisting of rocky ironstone country with scant vegetation and a

low human population.

The following places are marked on the map (Fig. 2) and are where most

of the birds recorded were seen.

Botanical Gardens (A) - These gardens, situated in the suburb of Camayenne,

are not maintained and many trees have been felled. The Forestry Department

has an office there and part of the Gardens is used for rearing seedlings.

Next to the Gardens there is the Colonial Cemetery, almost completely over-

94

D. K. Richards

MALIMBUS 4

grown, but a rewarding birdwatching area.

Dabondi (B) - A heavily populated suburb on the southern coast with a small

muddy bay fed by a small tree- lined creek.

Airport (C) - A typical airport. There are areas of long grass which, when

dry, are harvested by the local population for bedding. The airport is

bordered on the north by irrigated cultivation and on the south by a man-

grove creek.

Airport Creek (D) - A tidal mangrove creek with a small area of mud

exposed at low tide. Between the mangroves and the airport the area is

scrub with a few tall trees.

Bare Hillside (E) - This ironstone area in the centre of the peninsular has

already been noted.

Kipe (F) - A village and suburbs on the northern coast where I lived in

February 1981.

Sangareya Bay (G) - Here restricted to the area of mudflats near the village

of Lembagui ; a very important feeding area for herons and Palaearctic

waders .

Marshy Area (H) - An unnamed fresh-marsh alongside the airport road.

Fresh-water Marsh and Pools (I) - Also unnamed, near the village of Fosside.

Sparse Woodland (J) - Near Fosside.

Kakoulima (not shown on map) - A prominent hill rising to 1000 m a.s.l.,

50 km NE of Conakry. There is a track normally only suitable for 4-whell

drive vehicles almost to the top. The upper third of the hill is heavily

forested while the lower third has been cleared; the intermediate third is

in the process of being cleared. The area would make an ideal first

national park for Guinee and, in any case, should be preserved. Not only

is tree-felling rampant but many local people roam the area carrying modern

automatic rifles. Apart from birds there are also Chimpanzees Pan

troglodytes and various species of monkey in the forest. Unfortunately I

was only able to visit the area twice during my stay in the country.

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Scientific and English names and sequence follow Serle & Morel (1977) .

Pelecanus rufescens Usually present off shore.

Phalacrocorax africanus Usually seen on small fresh water pools outside

the city, e.g. at H and I, but occasionally at Sangareya Bay (G) .

Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus Quite common at Sangareya Bay (G) but some

always present at other sites scattered along the coast.

1982

CONAKRY AND KAKULIMA , GUINEE

95

Figure 1 White-crested Bitter (Tiger Bittern) Tigriornis leucolopha .

See text. Photo D.K. Richards

Figure 2 Environs of Conakry. A-J, see text.

96

D. K. Richards

MALIMBUS 4

Ixobrychus sturmii Only seen once at the small marsh H along the airport

road, on 25 Feb 1980.

Tigriornis leucolophus (Fig. 1) One captured by fishermen in Jan 1980 at

Dixinn; three kept as pets by a Guinee family near the airport in .Mar

and Apr 1980; one seen at the airport creek D in Nov 1980.

Nycticorax nycticorax Odd birds seen occasionally in Sangareya Bay but on

15 Feb 1981 several hundreds were disturbed from a roost there.

Ardeola ralloides Occasionally seen at H.

Ardeola ibis Common, even in the city feeding on rubbish heaps.

Butorides striatus Always present in Sangareya Bay.

Egretta ardesiaca A few always present in Sangareya Bay and odd birds

seen at other suitable localities.

Egretta alba Very common in Sangareya Bay with as many as 220 seen

feeding together in Apr 1980.

Egretta intermedia Two on 17 Feb 1981 at G is the only record for this

species .

Egretta garzetta Not very common: mainly seen at H but a few also seen

feeding in Sangareya Bay with the next species.

Egretta gularis Common, found all along the coast but more particularly

at G.

Ardea cinerea A few always present at G and odd birds seen at other sites

from time to time.

Ardea goliath Occasionally single birds at G and on the Airport Creek (D) .

Ardea purpurea One immature at D on 25 Mar 1980 and an adult at G on 5

Feb 1981 are my only records.

Scopus umbretta Occasionally seen in the Airport area.

Ibis ibis Uncommon, only observed at Sangaria Bay (G) , maximum 7; all

sightings in Feb 1981.

Threskiornis aethiopica Occasionally at G but never more than 3 or 4 at

one time .

Platalea alba Occasionally seen at G.

[Platalea leucorodia A possible seen at G on 5 Feb 1981 feeding far out on

the mud flats; an immature seen there on 18 Feb 1981 was almost

certainly this species. 7

Phoenicopterus ruber Occasionally seen at G but common elsewhere along

the Guinee coast.

Neophron monachus Very common in Conakry city.

Gypohierax angolensis Occasionally seen in the area although quite common

along the Guinee coast (once five counted during a 160 km flight) .

1982

CONAKRY AND KAKULIMA, GUINEE

97

Circus aeruginosus Occasionally seen at G.

Accipiter toussenelii One seen at A on 13 Apr 1980.

Accipiter badius Seen several times in the city; a pair resident at A

and a pair with a juvenile in Apr at Dabondi (B) .

Kaupifalco monogrammicus One seen inland from Sangaria Bay on 7 Feb 1981.

Stephanoaetus coronatus A pair at Kakulima, 9 Feb 1981.

Hieraaetus dubius One at Kakulima, 17 Nov 1980 and another there on 9 Feb

1981.

Haliaetus vocifer Seen occasionally. Two immatures at G in Mar 1980.

Milvus migrans A few pairs resident in the city and at the airport.

Elanus caeruleus A pair resident at the airport.

Pandion haliaetus Occasionally observed, during the months I was

resident in Conakry.

Falco cuvieri Twice at Sangaria Bay, 15 and 17 Feb 1981.

Falco chicquera Two records, both in palms: at Sangaria Bay 17 Feb 1981

and at the airport 7 Feb 1980.

Falco ardosiaceus Two records from the airport, 13 Feb and 5 Nov 1980.

Francolinus bicalcaratus Present in scrub at the Airport Creek.

Ptilopachus petrosus Probably resident in the area of E (Hendrick Jacobs,

pers . comm. ) .

Numida meleagris A flock of guinea-fowl disturbed in secondary growth on

Kakulima were assumed to be of this species; domesticated birds

often kept in villages near Conakry.

[Crex crex A large brown crake, with long dangling legs, disturbed in long

wet grass at Airport, 16 Nov 1980, was possibly this species. 7

Actophilornis africana One on a fresh water pool at I on 19 Nov 1980.

Burhinus oedicnemus One on 18 Feb 1981 at G was seen with other

Palaearctic waders. Good views obtained of the wing-pattern.

Burhinus senegalensis Small group at the Airport in Feb 1980.

Vanellus lugubris Present at the Airport where their behaviour suggested

breeding. A chick, possibly of this species, was found there in Apr

1980.

Vanellus senegallus Found occasionally at low tide in area D.

Pluvialis squatarola Seen almost everywhere along the coast, even in the

city; most numerous at G where, in Apr 1980, many were in breeding

plumage .

98

D. K. Richards

MALIMBUS 4

Charadrius hiaticula Seen almost everywhere along the coast, even in the

city. Most common in Apr.

Charadrius forbesi Often found at the Airport and most often seen at

dawn .

Numenius phaeopus Present at all suitable areas, even in the city; most

common at G.

Limosa limosa At times very common in flocks at G; one flock in Feb 1981

contained over 300 birds.

Limosa lapponica Small numbers seen occasionally at D and G.

Tringa nebular ia Always present in numbers, and occasionally in flocks of

100 at D and G, during Feb and Mar.

Tringa stagnatilis A few usually present at G and occasionally at D.

Tringa glareola Sometimes present in irrigation ditches at the Airport;

one record from G.

Tringa ochropus Often present in irrigation ditches at the Airport and in

the marshy area next to the nearby Hotel Gbessia.

Tringa hypoleucos Most often found at G roosting in the mangroves at high

tide but some birds always present at all other coastal sites.

Tringa totanus Usually found in flocks, often with T. nebularia , at D and

G.

Tringa erythropus Several recorded at G in Apr 1980 among a mixed flock

of waders .

Arenaria interpres A few (5-10) occasionally at G but odd birds seen at

other places along the coast.

Calidris alpina Usually present at G in small numbers.

Calidris ferruginea Uncommon, but numbers increase frpm mid Mar while in

Apr many are in full breeding plumage.

Calidris minuta Seen all round the coast, most common at G.

Philomachus pugnax Several disturbed from a flooded rice field near G on

5 Feb 1981 is the only record.

Himantopus himantopus Occasionally 2-3 at G and also recorded on mud

flats near the docks in the city.

Recurvi rostra avosetta Very common, at times several thousands, in G

7 and 18 Feb 1981 and suspected of roosting at high tide on the lies

de Los.

Glareola pratincola Sometimes present at G and about 20 seen flying over

the Airport at dawn on 27 Apr 1980. Large flocks have been seen from

the air on 8 Feb 1980 just north and south of Conakry, outside the

area covered here.

1982

CONAKRY AND KAKULIMA, GUINEE

99

Larus cirrocephalus A few usually at G.

Larus sabini About 20 seen on 30 Nov 1980 off F. The distinctive wing-

pattern was seen as well as the dipping flight.

Larus fiscus Single birds seen occasionally at F and G.

[Larus argentatus Five gulls, possibly this species, seen resting on the

sea at G on 18 Feb 1980-7

Rynchops flavirostris One at G in Feb 1980.

Sterna nilotica The commonest tern in the area: always present at G and

at most other coastal sites.

Sterna caspia A few always present at G and also seen at most other

coastal sites.

Sterna hirundo Occasionally seen at G during Feb 1981.

Sterna maxima Occasionally seen at any coastal site but most often at G.

[Sterna sandvicensis Two terns, possibly this species, seen at sea off G

in Mar 1980.7

Sterna leucoptera A small flock in Apr 1980 at G.

Sterna hybrida Small flocks at G in Mar and Apr.

Sterna albifrons Occasional at G.

Streptopelia semitorquata Seen at A and in mangroves at G.

Streptopelia senegalensis Common throughout the area.

Turtur tympanistria Heard calling in the forest on Kakolima Hill.

Turtur afer Seen occasionally in scrub at G, A and on Kakolima.

+Turtur abyssinicus A small black-billed dove, possibly this species,

seen in the Airport Creek area in Apr 1980.

Poicephalus senegalus Seen occasionally at Kipe .

Tauraco persa Seen on Kakolima Hill (Hendrick Jacobs, pers. comm.).

Crinifer piscator Seen once at A on 30 Mar 1980 and once at Kipe on 2

Feb 1981.

Clamator jacobinus Occasionally recorded in bush on the outskirts of the

city and also in private gardens in the city.

Chrysococcyx caprius Calling in the Airport area throughout Nov 1980.

Centropus senegalensis Several pairs in A and the adjacent cemetery but

also occurs in city suburbs such as B and at Kakolima Hill.

100

D. K. Richards

MALIMBUS 4

Tyto alba Three roosted in a hanger at the Airport during Mar 1980.

Caprimulgus climacurus Present in scrub in the Airport Creek area during

Feb to May .

Macrodipteryx longipennis As previous species but also seen throughout

the whole area.

[Apus aequatorialis A very large brown swift seen over Kakolima in Nov was

thought to have been this species . ]

Apus apus Seen over Kakolima in Nov 1980 and Feb 1981.

Apus af finis Several small colonies in the city and one near the Airport.

Cypsiurus parvus Present in the city where there are palms.

Ceryle maxima Two records in Mangrove Creek near the Airport, on 16 Nov

1980 and 8 Apr 1980.

Ceryle rudis The commonest kingfisher, found on the coast and in creeks.

Alcedo cristata Always present at Sangaria Bay (G) , and once feeding in

spring at the Hotel Gbessia near the Airport.

Ceyx pi eta Once at the Botanical Gardens (A) , on 2 2 Feb 1980.

Halcyon senegalensis Occasionally near Airport (C) .

Halcyon malimbica Usually present in mangroves at Sangaria Bay (G) ; also

a pair resident by a small creek in the city suburb of Daboni (B) .

Halcyon leucocephala Pair resident at the Hotel Gbessia, near the Airport.

Merops superciliosus Occurs at Airport Creek and Sangaria Bay (G) , feeding

from mangroves, Feb-Apr 1980 and Feb 1981.

Merops albicollis Occurs in the same areas as the previous species but

feeds from trees. Many juveniles/immatures in Feb 1981. Adults only

Mar 1980.

i

Merops pusillus Very scarce, only two sightings: Sangaria Bay 30 Mar 1980

and Airport Creek 27 Apr 1980.

[Coracias abyssinica A roller flying over the Airport in Nov 1980 was thought

to have been this species. 7

Eurystomus glaucurus Pair seen in tall trees near Yalaya Dam (I) , 27 Apr

1980.

Eurystomus gularis One in the Botanical Gardens, 9 Mar 1980.

Tockus fasciatus Common on lower slopes of Kakoulima.

Pogoniulus chrysoconus Seen twice in scrub near the Airport (C) , 28 Mar and

8 Apr 1980.

1982

CONAKRY AND KAKULIMA, GUINEE

101

Campethera nivosa One seen at Kakoulima in Feb 1981 in secondary forest.

Mesopicos goertae In scrub near the Airport (C) 8 Apr 1980, also three

immatures in mangroves at Sangaria Bay (G) , Feb 1981.

i

Mirafra africana Resident at the Airport.

Galerida modesta Resident at the Airport but found in drier, sandier

places than the previous species .

Hirundo rustica Surprisingly, only small numbers seen.

Hirundo smithii Occasional, especially inland from Sangaria Bay.

Hirundo abyssinica Occasional anywhere in the area.

Delichon urbica Small flock flying high over the city in Jan 1980, also

at Kakoulima on 9 Feb 1981.

Psalidoprocne obscura Several pairs at Kipe.

Psalidoprocne nitens Occurs on Kakoulima.

Motacilla flava Seen from Feb onwards, mostly females and immatures; in

mid Apr 1980 hundreds flew over the Hotel Gbessia at dusk.

Motacilla aguimp Occasionally seen in the Airport area.

Motacilla alba Two seen at C, Jan 1982.

Macronyx croceus Resident at the Airport

Dryoscopus gambensis Once in mangroves at Sangaria Bay (G) , 17 Feb 1981.

Lanius collaris Surprisingly observed only once, near Kipe.

Oriolus sp. An oriole called regularly in mangroves at Sangaria Bay

during Feb 1981.

Lamprotornis chalybaeus One near Airport 16 Nov 1980.

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster A pair once seen feeding in scrub near the

Airport, 16 Mar 1980.

Corvus albus A few resident throughout the area.

[Picathartes gymnocephalus A bird possibly of this species disturbed among

rocks on Kakoulima Hill. 7

Campephaga phoenicea A female in the Botanical Gardens, 15 Feb 1980. A

completely black male on Kakoulima in Feb 1981 may have been this

species or C. quiscalina.

Pycnonotus barbatus Common everywhere.

Anropadus gracilirostris One seen in primary forest on Kakoulima, Nov

1980.

102

D. K. Richards

MALIMBUS 4

Chlorocichla simplex Occurs in thick undergrowth in the old Cemetery.

Saxicola rubetra Winter resident at the Airport, last date 18 Apr.

Oenanthe oenanthe One near Daboni , Nov 1980.

Cossypha albicapilla Pair resident in thickets in Daboni.

Cossypha niveicapilla Resident at old Cemetery, also in scrub adjacent to

Airport Creek.

Turdus pelios Seen near Kipe, also on Kakoulima.

Turdoides plebejus Occurs in the old Cemetery and in scrub at the Airport

Creek .

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Common in mangroves at Airport Creek during

Apr.

Sylvia atricapilla One seen feeding in a City garden, Jan 1982.

Phy lloscopus trochilus Very common from early Feb to mid Apr, many in full

song by the end of Mar.

Cisticola cantans Common in scrub at Airport near water; also present

near Sangaria Bay (G) .

Cisticola galactotes Occurs in scrub at Sangaria Bay.

Cisticola juncidis Common in dry scrub around the Airport.

Prinia sub f lava Quite common in areas of neglected cultivation all over

the city.

Hypergerus atriceps One seen in coastal scrub near Sangaria Bay on 16 Mar

1980.

Camaroptera brachyura Common in the Botanical Gardens and the old

Cemetery .

Sylvietta brachyura Seen occasionally in secondary growth at the Airport

Creek .

Macrosphenus concolor One in the Botanical Gardens on 22 Feb 1980.

Artomyias ussheri Seen at Kakoulima on 9 Feb 1981.

Melaenornis edolioides Two seen in Nov near Fosside.

Platysteira cyanea Often seen in mangroves at Sangaria Bay (G) .

Terpsiphone rufiventer Male seen in primary forest below the top of

Kakoulima Hill.

Terpsiphone viridis Pair in overgrown cultivation on Kakoulima.

1982

CONAKRY AND KAKULIMA, GUINEE

103

Anthreptes gabonicus Common in mangroves at Sangaria Bay and the Airport

Creek, but also regularly seen feeding in palms, mangroves and other

trees at Kipe.

Nectarinia venusta The commonest sunbird, found throughout; many birds

are white-bellied.

Nectarinia chloropygia Quite common in the Botanical Gardens and the

adjoining Cemetery.

Nectarinia pulchella Occasionally seen in the Airport area, in gardens

and in mangroves at Sangaria Bay.

Ploceus cucullatus Very common in the Airport area and the outskirts of

the ci ty .

Ploceus nigricollis Present in numbers in the Botanical Gardens and

Cemetery; nest-building in Mar.

Euplectes ardens Occurs in overgrown cultivation on lower slopes of

Kakoulima, Nov 1980.

Euplectes hordeaceus Several displaying males in long grass and reeds at

(I) and also at Airport Creek, Nov 1980.

Euplectes macrourus A few in overgrown cultivation on the lower slopes of

Kakoulima, Nov 1980 and at the Airport Creek during the same period.

Passer griseus Fairly common near houses throughout the city.

Vidua macroura At least four males resident at the Airport.

Estrilda melpoda Group feeding in seeding grasses, Airport Creek, Nov

1980.

Estrilda troglodydtes Large group feeding on seeding grasses, Airport

Creek, Nov 1980.

Estrilda astrild Present in overgrown cultivation on the lower slopes of

Kakoulima.

Estrilda caerulescens Several, possibly this species, disturbed in

village of Kaporo, near (G) .

Lagonosticta senegala Very common, found almost everywhere.

Ortygospiza atricollis Resident at the Airport in tall grass adjacent to

irrigation ditches.

Lonchura cucullata Present wherever seeding grass available.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank Dr G. Morel for his invaluable comments and correspond-

ence during the preparation of this paper. I would also like to thank Graeme

Backhurst for his advice and assistance in the preparation of this paper and

Don Turner for helpful comments on identification of species, also H. Jacobs

for assistance with field-work in Guinee.

D. K . Richards , P.O. Box 30750, Nairobi, Kenya

104

MALIMBUS 4

V-

Wheatears in Mauritania. Left column Oenanthe oenanthe seebohmi-, centre

column O. hispanica-, right column O. deserti . See p. 84. Photos P.W.P. Browne

1982

NOTES

105

POIDS DES DENDROCYGNES FAUVES DENDROCYGNA BI COLOR AU SENEGAL - En comple-

ment a une etude de regime alimentaire (en preparation) , il nous a paru

interessant de donner quelques indications supplementaires sur les

populations de Dendrocygnes fauves ( Dendrocygna bicolor) du delta du

Senegal. En effet, les renseignements sur les poids des canards sont rares

dans la litterature et quasi inexistants en ce qui concerne les Dendrocygnes

fauves. Au cours de notre etude sur les regimes alimentaires , nous avons

examine 138 Dendrocygnes fauves: 106 adultes (sans Bourse de Fabricius) et

32 immatures (avec Bourse de Fabricius) . Nous ne retiendrons ici que les

poids des canards adultes, puisque les immatures peuvent, au moment de leur

capture, n'avoir pas atteint encore leur taille adulte .

Resultats bruts: Les poids variaient, parmi les 57 <3* examines, entre 640

et 1050 g, la moyenne etant de 819.4 g et l'ecart type de 88.1 g. Pour les

49 <£, les poids etaient compris entre 580 et 1030 g, avec une moyenne de

793.3 g et un ecart type de 92.3 g.

Discussion: La legere difference de poids entre les (? et les <£ n'est pas

statistiquement significative (analyse de variance, T = 1,488). Par contre,

les differences de poids selon les mois sont significatives (analyse de

variance, F]_q,95 = 1.99), P = 0.95. Les Dendrocygnes fauves maigrissent en

fin de saison seche (Mai) quand ils ont du mal a trouver leur nourriture et

grossissent le plus en novembre-decembre au moment de la recolte du riz

(qui represente 1/3 de leur regime alimentaire sur l'annee, cf. TRECA en

preparation) .

B. Treca

Mission ORSTOM, B.P. 126, Bamako, Rep. du Mali

RINGING IN NIGERIA IN 1981. 24th ANNUAL REPORT

Schedule 1 Numbers of Palaearctic species ringed

1980

Total to date

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Black Tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Jack Snipe G. minima

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Blue throat L. svecica

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Savi 1 s Warbler Locustella luscinioides

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

1

2

1

4

3

5

3

1

19

2

1

2

3

6

26

4

572

78

31

372

86

1505

33813

503

344

499

5

35

10

125

2204

106

NOTES

MALIMBUS 4

Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus

Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus

Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina

Melodious Warbler H. polyglotta

Olivaceus Warbler H . pallida

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

Whitethroat S. communis

Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca

Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

68

9

5

2

8

1

43

3

8

3

470

149

203

157

220

2399

2133

191

246

990

Total 324 56428

Ethiopian birds 35 15768

Grand Total 359 72196

Schedule 2 Controls in Nigeria

White Stork Ciconia ciconia

See Fry, 1982, Malimbus 4: 47. Thanks are due to John Hughes for obtaining

six White Stork rings from a village near Nguru. It indicates that

stork catching is still carried out in Kano State only a few miles

from Bornu State, where the law is more rigorously enforced and

stork trappers are prosecuted.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

M16516 Ringed 19/7/80, Rantasalmi Laani, Finland, 62' N 28°39'E

Trapped 31/1/81, Nguru

Schedule 3 Controls in Ghana

Swallow Hirundo rustica

P42649 Ringed 8/8/77, Talavera la Real, Spain, 38°53'N 6°46'W

Trapped and reringed London A027013

25/1/78, Tafo-Akim, 6°13'N 00°22'W

Black Kite Milvus mi grans

MD12641 Ringed 25/6/77, Nava del Rey, Spain, 41°19'N 5°05'W

Shot 15/1/79, Tamale, 9°26'N 00°49'W

DE08949 Ringed 14/6/72, Coto Donana, Spain, 37°02'N 03°27'W

Caught -/11/73, Kpandu, 07°00'N 00°25'E

MD14782 Ringed 22/6/77, Pescueza, Spain, 39°54'N 06°39'W

Hit car 7/12/77, Yape, 10°44'N 00°53'W

R. E. Sharland, 39 Avon Castle Drive, Ringwood, Hants., U.K.

1982

NOTES

107

ADDITIONS TO LOCAL AVIFAUNAS: KANO STATE - The following species new to Kano

State, Nigeria, are additional to those reported by Sharland & Wilkinson

( Malimbus 3, 1981: 7-30). Observers: RW R. Wilkinson, DJA D.J. Aidley,

RES R.E . Sharland, RB R. Beecroft. For details of localities see Sharland

& Wilkinson (loc. cit.) .

African Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster Two records from Falgore, on 10

January and 29 April 1982 (RW, DJA) .

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Reported from Jekara Dam by C.H.

Fry ( Malimbus 3, 1981: 54).

Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis One at Falgore on 5 January 1982

(RB) .

Little Crake Porzana parva Recorded from Jekara Dam (RW, RB, DJA) ;

details in Bull. Brit. Orn . Cl. (in press).

Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius One at Falgore on 9 August 1982 (RW) .

Plain Nightjar Caprimulgus inornatus A sight record by RES (Bull. Niger.

Orn. Soc . 1, 4, 1964: 77-80) now substantiated by two birds netted at

Kano in May 1981 (DJA) .

- Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus Omitted by Sharland & Wilkinson (op. cit.) in

error. The Palm Swift is a common resident throughout Kano State.

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus A single bird flying with Little Swifts Apus

affinus and Sand Martins Riparia riparia over Jekara Dam on 18 April

1982 (RW) .

Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens One at Falgore on 8 January

1982 (RW) .

European Swallow Hirundo rustica Omitted by Sharland & Wilkinson (op. cit.)

in error. A regular passage migrant through Kano in April and

September .

Black -cap Bush Shrike Tchagra minuta A pair by river at Falgore on 6

February 1982, and single birds at the same locality on 11 March and

25 July 1982 (RW) .

White-breasted Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina pectoralis Recorded only from

Falgore: a pair on 25 March and one on 9 August 1982 (RW) .

Black-cap Babbler Turdoides reinwardii First unambiguously identified at

Falgore on 6 February 1982, and encountered again in March and April.

A previous observation at Falgore in November 1981 is now believed to be

of this species (RW, DJA) .

Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes Mist-netted in reed-beds at Jekara

Dam in November 1981 and again in January, May, June, July and August

1982 (RW, DJA) .

Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris Netted at Jekara in May 1981

(DJA) and repeatedly from November 1981 until August 1982 .

African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus boeticatus Another new species from

Jekara Dam, netted every month from November 1981 to June 1982 (DJA, RW) .

Grey-headed Olive-back Nesocharis capistrata First seen at riverside

locality in Falgore on 6 February 1982 and netted there on 11 March 1982

(RW, DJA) .

Parasitic Weaver Anomalospiza imberbis A single male netted in reedbeds at

Jekara Dam on 26 May 1982 (RW, DJA) . This may be the most northerly

record for this species in Nigeria.

R. Wilkinson & D.J. Aidley

Dept. Biological Sci . , Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria

108

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 4

Ceyx pi eta, cont . from p. 54

The evidence available to Elgood et al. in 1973 was insufficient to

show that C. picta is migrant. With more information on seasonal occurrence

of birds at different localities it would not be surprising to find that

other species, presently considered to be sedentary, may undertake regular

seasonal movements too.

REFERENCES (See also Table 1)

BENSON, C.W. (1982) Migrants in the Afrotropical region south of the

equator. Ostrich 53: 31-49

ELGOOD, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. B.O.U. Checklist No. 4

ELGOOD, J.H., FRY, C.H. & DOWSETT, R.J. (1973) African migrants in Nigeria.

Ibis 115: 1-45, 375-411

MOREL, G. (1968) Contribution a la synecologie des oiseaux du sahel

senegalais. Mem. O.R.S.T.O.M. 29: 179 pp.

Roger Wilkinson , Department of Biological Sciences , Bayero University ,

P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria

CORRECTION

Birds of Obudu, Malimbus 2 (1980) p 20: for Ploceus ocularis read Ploceus

nigricollis . A.E. Heaton.

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R E C OMM ANDAT [ ON 8 AUX AUTEURS

Malimbus publie des articles, de courtes notes, des analyses et des lettres

avec illustrations. Les manuscrits doivent etre dactylographies a double

interligne avec une large marge sur un seul cote de chaque page. Autant

que possible, les manuscrits auront ete auparavant soumis a un ornithologue

ou un biologiste.

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LES CONVENTIONS pour les tableaux, les dates, les nombres, les valeurs en

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pourront etre recherchees dans ce numero et dans les precedents. Les

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tableau (e.g. Malimbus 1: 22 ou 1: 49) ou du format d'une page de textes du

1: 36 et 56 pour les textes avec de courtes observations par especes ou du

1: 90 pour les textes plus longs.

REFERENCES A OMETTRE DANS LA BIBLIOGRAPHIE

BANNERMAN 1930-51 or 1953 : Bannerman, D . A . (1930-51) The Birds of West

Tropical Africa. 8 vols . Crown Agents, London; (1953) The Birds

of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh and

London

ELG00D 1982 : Elgood, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. B.O.U., London

ELG00D, SHARLAND & WARD 1966 : Elgood, J.H., Sharland, R.E. & Ward, P.

(1966) Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 108 : 84-116

ELGOOD, FRY & DOWSETT 1973 : Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett, R.J.

African migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 115 : 1-45 and 375-411

HALL & MOREAU 1970 : Hall, B.P. & Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of Speciation

in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

MACKWORTH-PRAED & GRANT 1957-73 or 1970-73 : Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant,

C.H.B. (1957-73) African Handbook of Birds. Series I, Birds of Eastern

and North Eastern Africa (2nd ed.) . 2 vols. Series II, Birds of the

Southern Third Africa. 2 vols. Series III, Birds of West Central and

Western Africa. 2 vols. Longmans Green & Co., London; (1970-73)

African Handbook of Birds. Series III, Birds of West Central and

Western Africa. Vol . I, 1970, Non-passerines, Vol. 2, 1973, Passerines.

Longmans , London

SERLE & MOREL 1977 ; Serle, W. & Morel, G.J. (1977) A Field Guide to the

Birds of West Africa . Collins, London

SNOW, D.W. (Ed.) 1978 : An Atlas of Speciation in African Non-Passerine

Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

tfHITE 1960-65 : White, C.M.N. (1960) A check list of the Ethiopian

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

Museums of Southern Rhodesia 3 (24B) : 399-430; (1961) A revised check

list of African broadbills ... etc. Lusaka : Government Printer;

(1962a) A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Parts II

and III. occ. Pap. Nat. Mus . S. Rhod. 3 (26B) : 653-738; (1962b) A

revised check list of African shrikes ... etc. Lusaka : Gov. Printer;

(1963) A revised check list of African flycatchers ... etc. Lusaka :

Gov. Printer; and (1965) A revised check list of African Non-Passerine

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

MALIMBUS 4 (2) October 1982

CONTENTS

Seasonal Movements of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta in West

Africa. Roger Wilkinson

More Bird Records from the Republic of Togo. Robert A. Cheke

A Preliminary Checklist of Birds in the Kilimi Area of Northwest

Sierra Leone. Diana P. Harding and Robert S. 0. Harding

Palaearctic Birds Wintering in Southwest Mauritania: Species,

Distributions and Population Estimates. P. W. P. Browne

The Birds of Conakry and Kakulima, Democratic Republic of Guinee

D. K. Richards

Poids des Dendrocygnes fauves Dendrocygna bicolor au Senegal.

B. Treca

Ringing in Nigeria in 1981. 24th Annual Report. R. E. Sharland

Additions to Local Avifaunas: Kano State. Roger Wilkinson

t

-J

.